Newcastle v Everton: Preview, predicted line-ups & team news

Newcastle have barely had time to digest Thursday night.

The hosts led by two goals to nil at half-time in that game, yet it was Everton who led 3-0 at the break, and Newcastle's reply came much too little, too late. Newcastle will want to put that right quickly, with the league table showing a side stuck in mid-table with no momentum to speak of.

Newcastle sit 12th on 11 points from eight games, three points behind sixth-placed Brentford. Their last eight league results read three wins, two draws and three defeats, and the defending is the issue. They have conceded 14 goals, an average of 1.75 a game, and have kept just two clean sheets.

The heavy defeats have come away from home, 4-1 at Leeds and 4-1 at Coventry. Their last league outing was a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on 25 October, drawn twice and lost once, scoring 1.5 goals per game.

Everton are 14th on 10 points from eight games, three points clear of the bottom three. They have drawn four of their eight, three of them away from home, and have lost their last two, 2-0 at Arsenal and 2-0 at home to Chelsea.

The problem is at the other end. Everton have scored eight goals in eight league games, failed to score three times and carry an xG of 0.91 per game. They are hard to beat in most weeks, but they have won only twice, both at home. The League Cup win will have lifted spirits, though a Premier League away game is a different test.

Newcastle have won three, drawn two and lost three of their last eight, scoring 12 and conceding 14. Everton have won two, drawn four and lost two, scoring eight and conceding nine. On paper that points to Everton as the harder side to beat, but the numbers behind it are less kind. Everton's xG of 0.91 per game is well below Newcastle's 1.35, and they come into this on two straight defeats without a goal. Newcastle's results are volatile, yet their win at Palace shows they can still score freely when the game opens up.

Newcastle are 12th with 11 points from eight games, goal difference minus two. Everton are 14th with 10 points from eight, goal difference minus one. Both have played a game fewer than most of the division, so a win here is worth more than it looks.

Brentford in sixth have 14 points from nine games, so a Newcastle win would put them within a point of the top six with a game in hand. Palace in 18th have seven points from nine, so Everton are three points clear of the drop zone and Newcastle four. A defeat would pull either side towards the bottom end rather than end their season, but it would stretch a poor run.

Everton have the edge over the last 10 meetings in all competitions. They have won five, Newcastle three and two have been drawn, with an average of three goals per game. Both teams have scored in six of the 10, and six have produced more than 2.5 goals. The last meeting was Everton's 3-1 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 29 October in the League Cup.

The pattern is that these games tend to open up, on 28 February, ended 3-2 to Everton, so a goal-laden result is no surprise. A narrow home win or a draw with goals at both ends is the likeliest correct-score lean.

The biggest gap is in attacking threat. Newcastle average 1.5 goals a game and an xG of 1.35 over their last eight, against one goal and 0.91 for Everton. Everton have failed to score three times, Newcastle once.

At the back the picture flips. Newcastle concede 1.75 goals a game with an xG against of 1.54, while Everton concede 1.13 and have three clean sheets to Newcastle's two. Everton also take more shots on target, 4.63 a game against 3.38. Newcastle have to fix the defending or they will give a limited Everton side a chance, but they are the likelier team to create the better chances.

The game kicks off at 8pm GMT on Monday 2 November. It is shown on Sky Sports where selected, with the match also available to stream through Sky Go and NOW for subscribers. We will update this page if a different channel is confirmed closer to kick-off.

The strongest angle is goals at both ends. Newcastle have conceded in six of their eight league games and Everton have scored in five, while six of the last 10 meetings produced both teams scoring. Newcastle to win is the main pick, since Everton have not won away this season. The bet builder pairs that with both teams to score and an anytime goalscorer from the home side.