Thursday’s match ended Everton 3 Newcastle 1

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

Plenty to talk about after this Everton one…

A match that saw Newcastle United dominate much of the match and the statistics (see below), yet end up 3-0 down and scoring a (no) consolation goal in the 88th minute.

On this occasion it is Mark Jankowski with the positives and negatives:

POSTIVES

30 minutes

The first 30 minutes of the game were largely positive.

We actually managed to work some decent patterns of play with some quick interchanges on the right before a quick transition to the left. We perhaps should have troubled Pickford more during this spell but it was a confident start.

Fight

We managed to stick one past Jordan Pickford and one on him at the end.

It was far too little too late but at least there was some sort of fight in what was otherwise a performance lacking in passion and desire.

Ruined by…

I had a very pleasant afternoon and evening in Liverpool which was thoroughly ruined by the match.

It was my first trip to Everton’s new stadium and it’s a spectacular place to watch football.

I was proud to be part of the travelling contingent even if we didn’t get the performance our incredible support deserved.

NEGATIVES

Too easy

Newcastle remain far too easy to score against.

After a relatively comfortable opening period, Dedic gifted possession to Hackney who teed up Garner for a well finished opener.

The second goal wasn’t much better, Ramsey made an excellent recovery tackle initially but Hackney was allowed the freedom of our penalty area moments later to double Everton’s lead.

The third goal looked like it should have been halted for a foul on Elanga, but regardless, our defending after the play continued was amateurish at best.

Everton are a decidedly poor attacking team who we have allowed to score three very simple goals against us.

Lightweight

Our midfield continues to look lightweight and outmatched. A large part of why we concede so cheaply is due to individual errors but those errors are occurring in part because the defence is routinely exposed. This is being caused by the fact we are often outnumbered in the middle of the pitch.

What is particularly concerning is that Everton played with two conventional midfielders and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a number 10 role, yet were still able to routinely outnumber us on the break. For me, a tweak to the system we are playing is essential.

Target

We simply do not get enough shots on target.

I was having the conversation with someone who sits near me at St James’ Park last week, that I couldn’t remember a game this season where the opposition keeper has had a great game.

We seem to dither constantly around the opposition box allowing their defenders to easily block crosses and shots. We lack cutting edge and, with the exception of 20 minutes against Palace, have done for weeks.

Everton 3 Newcastle 1 – Thursday 29 October 2026 7.45pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Burn 88

Everton:

Garner 34, Hackney 45, Barry 69

Possession was Newcastle 57% Everton 43%

Total shots were Newcastle 28 Everton 11

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 Everton 5

Corners were Newcastle 10 Everton 4

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 37 Everton 17

Newcastle team v Everton:

Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez (Steur 81), Willock, Ramsey (Joelinton 46), Barnes (Elanga 46), Murphy (Toure 67), Osula (Wissa 46)

Unused subs:

Pope, Botman, Bamba, Thiaw