Everton vs Newcastle tips and predictions: Weary visitors to settle for point at Goodison Park

Everton may be in a defiant mood and fine form, but they’re still struggling at Goodison Park and Arsenal’s near miss at Kenilworth Road was a stark reminder of their perilous position.

The Toffees have picked up 17 points through 14 games - a tally which puts them on course for 46 points - but sit third bottom on seven points.

The harsh reality of the challenge ahead of them is captured by the fixture list of past and future. They’ll face 10 top-half sides in their next 15 matches.

So far this season, Sean Dyche’s side have played nine of the bottom 10. Those matches account for 82% of their total points haul.

Visitors Newcastle are unbeaten in three and sitting pretty in sixth despite a relentless battle with injuries that have robbed them of so many key players.

The Toon quite predictably beat a limp Manchester United last time out, but their away form has been nothing to write home about.

Eddie Howe’s side have won one of six on their travels and dropped four points across two games with Wolves and Bournemouth most recently.

Despite their struggles at home, Everton were the better team and created the better chances against Man Utd, and their performance at Forest was one of their best in recent times.

The circumstances may be squeezing a little bit extra out of Dyche’s men and they should smell blood against the walking wounded on Thursday.

The visitor's situation has become so farcical that you could easily field a team of from the 13 absent players that would be good enough to compete for European football.

Somehow the Magpies keep plucking away and rarely look short of confidence or quality, but each game is becoming more testing, and they must be tiring.

It’s hard to trust either team to win in the circumstances so a draw might be the best bet.

Team news

Dele Ali, Andre Gomes and Amadou Onana are expected to miss out for Everton.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered a minor setback last week but could be fit to return on Thursday.

Sandro Tonali is suspended for Newcastle while Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Javier Manquillo, Jacob Murphy, Elliott Anderson and Sean Longstaff are ruled out.

If that list wasn’t long enough, then Joe Willock, Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes and potentially Anthony Gordon will be joining them in the treatment room.

Key stats

- Everton have conceded in 15 of 20 at home, including six of seven this season
- Newcastle have won one of six on their travels this season
- Newcastle have conceded in 14 of 15 away from home

Suggested bets

Everton +0.25 Asian handicap

Both teams to score

Under 2.5 goals

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