Everton 1-4 Newcastle: Player ratings as Magpies take full advantage of Toffees collapse
Newcastle edged closer to Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years with a crushing 4-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday night. Equally, the result – as well as the impact on goal differences – puts the Toffees in even more relegation danger.
Callum Wilson scored twice on the night in a strong all-round performance, with Joelinton and Jacob Murphy also getting in on the act. Everton did pull it back to 3-1 through Dwight McNeil at one stage, but fans made their feelings known by almost totally clearing the stadium before the final whistle.
The Toffees made a really bright start and were pressing high from the opening minutes to cause Newcastle real problems. Winning it back in the opposition half presented the first opportunity when Idrissa Gueye put one straight at Nick Pope.
Amadou Onana was particularly impressing in midfielder to prevent Newcastle gaining a foothold, while Dwight McNeil from distance was the second Everton player to test Pope – again, however, it was a bit too easy for the visiting goalkeeper.
McNeil had another shot from range comfortably saved, with too many of Everton’s efforts missing the target. That in itself might go a long way to explaining why no Premier League team has scored fewer goals this season, because there was little wrong overall.
Deep into first half stoppage time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the ball in the net after going through one on one with Pope. But he was flagged marginally offside and VAR confirmed it after a long check.
In the midst of what could be called Everton dominance, Wilson had given Newcastle the lead against the run of play. The ball was quickly switched to their left.
Both teams had chances early in the second half, with Michael Keane throwing himself in front of a goal-bound effort from Joelinton and then Pope saving from Calvert-Lewin. But Everton were also wasteful as Keane fired the ball out of play from a good crossing position and Abdoulaye Doucoure disappointingly blazing over from inside the box.
But the longer that Sean Dyche’s team failed to take chances, the more likely it was Newcastle would double the lead. Only Jordan Pickford’s outstretched left hand denied Joe Willock a contender for goal of the season, setting himself up for a volley on the edge of the box. The same player instead made his team’s second shortly afterwards, taking on Ben Godfrey round the outside and then chipping a cut-back perfectly onto Joelinton’s head as Everton defenders looked at each other.
If that wasn’t the killer blow, Wilson’s second and Newcastle’s third that followed quickly afterwards absolutely was. It was poor defending to allow Bruno Guimaraes freedom to drive forward, feeding the Magpies’ number nine to curl a stunning effort into the top corner from 20 yards.
Everton’s consolation when it finally came was somewhat fortuitous, a McNeil corner that eluded everyone in the penalty area but wrongfooted Pope to find its way into the net. But rather than signal a comeback, Newcastle had a three-goal lead again almost straightaway. Substitutes Murphy and Alexander Isak, with the latter bamboozling Everton defenders on the left and crossing for a tap-in.
There was still time for Newcastle to a get spectacular fifth, but Fabian Schar’s stoppage time curler was ruled out by a VAR review that spotted Dan Burn offside earlier in the move.
Everton player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Pickford (7); RB: Godfrey (4), CB: Keane (5), CB: Tarkowski (5), LB: Mykolenko (4); CM: Onana (6), CM: Gueye (6), CM: Doucoure (5); RW: Iwobi (6), ST: Calvert-Lewin (6), LW: McNeil (5)
Subs: Maupay (5), Simms (N/A), Garner (N/A)
Newcastle player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Pope (7); RB: Trippier (7), CB: Schar (6), CB: Botman (7), LB: Targett (6); CM: Longstaff (7), CM: Guimaraes (8), CM: Willock (8); RW: Almiron (6), ST: Wilson (9), LW: Joelinton (8)
Subs: Murphy (7), Burn (6), Isak (7), Gordon (N/A), Anderson (N/A)