Everton vs Newcastle United

Goodison Park sets the stage for a lopsided Premier League showdown between Everton and Newcastle United.

Shocked by an unprecedented 10-point deduction, Everton slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in their last home league outing but bounced back quickly with a gutsy 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, moving within a two-point distance of safety at the start of this round. Manager Sean Dyche has turned the ‘Toffees’ into formidable travelers, with only Tottenham (15) picking up more points than them (13) on the road this season. Yet, Goodison has been a feeble fortress. Except for a 3-0 battering of fellow bottom-half rivals Bournemouth in early October, they’ve gone winless in all six remaining home league games this season (D1, L5), leading to the division’s second-worst home record. Newcastle’s upcoming visit won’t do them any favors, with Everton losing both top-flight H2Hs last term via an aggregate score of 5-1.

On the other hand, despite dealing with a major injury crisis, Newcastle United put on a blistering performance to beat Man Utd 1-0 at home last weekend, rounding off a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W2, D1). Back-to-back league wins against Chelsea and United have solidified their top-four aspirations, yet Eddie Howe’s men have traveled poorly this season. Barring a historic 8-0 thumping of rock-bottom Sheffield United in September, the ‘Magpies’ haven’t won any of their five remaining Premier League matches on the road (D2, L3), conceding 2+ goals on four occasions. Defying that record would write Howe’s name in the club’s folklore, as he’d become the first manager to inspire Newcastle to two consecutive away league wins against Everton since 1960.