Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have released very contrasting predictions ahead of tonight’s game at St James’ Park.
Merson is backing Eddie Howe’s Mags to build on Saturday’s 4-3 win over West Ham with a 3-1 victory over Everton, but Sutton thinks Sean Dyche’s Toffees will come away 2-1 winners.
Everton are 12 games without a win, yet the BBC pundit fears we’ll be fatigued and struggling to field fit players, believing the comeback over West Ham will have taken a huge amount out of our squad.
On the flip side, Sky Sports’ Merson thinks we’ll be boosted from Saturday and secure a “comfortable” 3-1 win tonight.
“Newcastle came back from 3-1 down last week to secure a 4-3 victory,” Merson told Sportskeeda. “Everton seemed like they would nick a point against Bournemouth but they scored an own goal with only a minute left on the clock. Everton could be all right this season.
“Newcastle are going to be good to watch from now on. They’re not getting into the top four this season, and they’ll need their fans to stay happy. They’re going to bombard teams and play entertaining football, and we’ll see more Newcastle games like the one against West Ham.
“Newcastle will have a go in their last eight league games, and these matches should be enjoyable. I’m backing Newcastle to secure a comfortable victory this week.”
Speaking to BBC Sport in his latest prediction piece, Sutton said: “I was at St James’ Park to see Newcastle’s late comeback to beat West Ham 4-3 and there is a lot to admire about Eddie Howe’s side.
“They found a way of winning the game, and it was great for Harvey Barnes to come on and change the game the way he did after missing so much of the campaign.
“My concern for them here is how much that will have taken out of them. Their squad was already injury-ravaged and now their captain Jamaal Lascelles is out for several months too.
“I am taking a bit of a punt here, especially given that Everton have gone 12 league games without a win, but I think Newcastle are so stretched and put so much into it on Saturday, that it will catch up with them here.
“Everton’s big problem is still in attack because they really struggle to find the back of the net but they do create chances and I have a sneaking feeling they will get a result, just like they did when they beat the Magpies 3-0 at Goodison Park in December.”
