In the league, both teams in contrasting positions will be looking to build on their victories from last weekend when they take on Newcastle at Goodison Park on Thursday night.
On Saturday, Everton edged out Nottingham Forest 1-0 away from home, while Newcastle United beat Manchester United by the same scoreline at home a few hours later. And it will be interesting to see if Everton can continue their winning ways in this match.
After a poor end to November, Everton were deducted 10 points for financial irregularities in the Premier League and then lost 0-3 at home to Manchester United. However, Everton puffed up their chests and earned three valuable points against Forest last weekend. It was a game that saw Dwight McNeil score a brilliant second-half goal, his first of the season, to help Everton secure their fifth league win of the season and their third in a row on the road. The win also helped them climb from the relegation zone to 18th place, just three points behind 17th-placed Luton.
Despite Everton having far fewer points at home than on the road, their manager Sean Dyche has high hopes for his side, calling the win against Forest a "reboot" and looking forward to what the team can do in their next seven matches. However, things don't look good for Everton when it comes to the history of the two teams, as they have lost five of their last six Premier League meetings with Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have spent the last eight days beating Chelsea and Manchester United in consecutive Premier League matches, with Anthony Gordon scoring in both games. After initial difficulties, Eddie Howe's side have won seven of their last 10 Premier League matches and they have moved up to sixth in the league, just a point behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and three behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Whilst Newcastle United have been excellent at home, losing just 2 of their 11 games at St James' Park, they have not been so good on the road, winning just 3 of their last 15 away games. However, it is worth noting that Newcastle United have won their last three midweek matches by an aggregate score of 13-3 and if they win this game, they will have won two league games in a row at Goodison Park for the first time since their three-game winning streak between 1958 and 1960.
Overall, Everton will have to make a breakthrough in order to win at home against Newcastle United, who have been in good form recently. Looking at the current situation, Newcastle United has a slightly better chance of winning, and the expected result of the match could be Everton 0-2 Newcastle United.
