Everton v Newcastle United
St James Park
Kickoff: 15:00
Referee: Howard Webb
Team News
Everton were dealt a double fitness blow on Tuesday with news that midfield pair Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill would both be forced to spend a spell on the sidelines. The news was worse for Fellaini who will have an operation on his ankle and will miss the rest of the season, Cahill is out for up to three weeks with a foot injury.
Newcastle were hopeful that Stephen Ireland would be available to make his debut after signing on loan from Villa but the midfielder picked up a knock this week and is unlikely to feature. Danny Guthrie may return for the Magpies, whilst Shola Ameobi may play with a face mask protecting his fractured cheek bone.
Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg), Alan Smith (knee) and Dan Gosling (hamstring) are all out.
Facts
1. Leighton Baines has assisted 24% of Everton’s league goals this season, a higher proportion than any other player from any club.
2. Everton have had nine shots cleared off the line in this campaign, more than any other side in the top flight.
3. Newcastle players have been awarded 59 yellow cards this season, that is more than any other club.
4. Everton have won just twice in 16 visits to St James Park in Premier League history, with the last victory coming in 2000.
5. Only one goal has been scored in the last two Premier League clashes between these sides.
6. Only Manchester United have scored more goals at home than Newcastle United
7. Newcastle United poor form at home leaves them 17th in home form table
Team Form
Everton's last six Premier League fixtures perhaps reflect the inconsistent nature of their season, with two wins, two draws and two defeats.
That run has been combined with an FA Cup campaign that came to a hugely disappointing conclusion on Tuesday night as the Blues lost 1-0 at home to Championship side Reading in the fifth round.
Newcastle have lost just once in the league in 2011 and are unbeaten in their last four games. Three of Newcastle's last four matches have finished as draws including a remarkable 4-4 draw with Arsenal which saw the Magpies come back from 4-0 down. United's last Premier League game, against European rivals Bolton Wanderers, finished 1-1 with Daniel Sturridge cancelling out Kevin Nolan's opener.
Newcastle's last six (all comps): Bolton, home (drew 1-1); Birmingham, away (won 2-0); Blackburn, away (drew 0-0); Arsenal, home (drew 4-4); Fulham, away (lost 1-0); Tottenham, home (drew 1-1).
Everton's last six (all comps): Reading, home, FA Cup (lost 1-0), Sunderland, home (won 2-0), Chelsea away, FA Cup (drew 1-1 AET, won 4-3 on penalties) Bolton, away (lost 2-0); Blackpool, home (won 5-3); Arsenal, away (lost 2-1)
Last Match
A wonder strike from Hatem Ben Arfa won the game for the Magpies earlier in the season, their first victory at Goodison Park since 2001. Ben Arfa unleashed a fierce effort from the edge of the penalty area and gave the Magpies a precious advantage right on the stroke of half time. Marouane Fellaini came closest to finding an equaliser for the Blues but Newcastle were able to hang on to their lead.
Possible starting XIs:
Newcastle: Harper, Williamson, Enrique, Simpson, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Ameobi.
Everton: Howard, Baines, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Jagielka, Bilyaletdinov, Rodwell , Osman, Arteta, Saha.
This is going to be a potentially cagey affair. The performance of Everton in the FA Cup tie, highlighted the inconsistency of the team, which has pretty much blighted the club for the majority of the season. But David Moyes, will without doubt drill some harsh truths into the players, and will do what he has to do most of the season, and that is to pick up the players, and do what he can to get the most out of them. But he can't do this by himself. The players need to really make up for the terrible performance against Reading. We lose the next two games, and other results go against us, we are in serious, serious trouble. As the rest of the fixtures show, there are by no means easy at all.
St James Park
Kickoff: 15:00
Referee: Howard Webb
Team News
Everton were dealt a double fitness blow on Tuesday with news that midfield pair Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill would both be forced to spend a spell on the sidelines. The news was worse for Fellaini who will have an operation on his ankle and will miss the rest of the season, Cahill is out for up to three weeks with a foot injury.
Newcastle were hopeful that Stephen Ireland would be available to make his debut after signing on loan from Villa but the midfielder picked up a knock this week and is unlikely to feature. Danny Guthrie may return for the Magpies, whilst Shola Ameobi may play with a face mask protecting his fractured cheek bone.
Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg), Alan Smith (knee) and Dan Gosling (hamstring) are all out.
Facts
1. Leighton Baines has assisted 24% of Everton’s league goals this season, a higher proportion than any other player from any club.
2. Everton have had nine shots cleared off the line in this campaign, more than any other side in the top flight.
3. Newcastle players have been awarded 59 yellow cards this season, that is more than any other club.
4. Everton have won just twice in 16 visits to St James Park in Premier League history, with the last victory coming in 2000.
5. Only one goal has been scored in the last two Premier League clashes between these sides.
6. Only Manchester United have scored more goals at home than Newcastle United
7. Newcastle United poor form at home leaves them 17th in home form table
Team Form
Everton's last six Premier League fixtures perhaps reflect the inconsistent nature of their season, with two wins, two draws and two defeats.
That run has been combined with an FA Cup campaign that came to a hugely disappointing conclusion on Tuesday night as the Blues lost 1-0 at home to Championship side Reading in the fifth round.
Newcastle have lost just once in the league in 2011 and are unbeaten in their last four games. Three of Newcastle's last four matches have finished as draws including a remarkable 4-4 draw with Arsenal which saw the Magpies come back from 4-0 down. United's last Premier League game, against European rivals Bolton Wanderers, finished 1-1 with Daniel Sturridge cancelling out Kevin Nolan's opener.
Newcastle's last six (all comps): Bolton, home (drew 1-1); Birmingham, away (won 2-0); Blackburn, away (drew 0-0); Arsenal, home (drew 4-4); Fulham, away (lost 1-0); Tottenham, home (drew 1-1).
Everton's last six (all comps): Reading, home, FA Cup (lost 1-0), Sunderland, home (won 2-0), Chelsea away, FA Cup (drew 1-1 AET, won 4-3 on penalties) Bolton, away (lost 2-0); Blackpool, home (won 5-3); Arsenal, away (lost 2-1)
Last Match
A wonder strike from Hatem Ben Arfa won the game for the Magpies earlier in the season, their first victory at Goodison Park since 2001. Ben Arfa unleashed a fierce effort from the edge of the penalty area and gave the Magpies a precious advantage right on the stroke of half time. Marouane Fellaini came closest to finding an equaliser for the Blues but Newcastle were able to hang on to their lead.
Possible starting XIs:
Newcastle: Harper, Williamson, Enrique, Simpson, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Ameobi.
Everton: Howard, Baines, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Jagielka, Bilyaletdinov, Rodwell , Osman, Arteta, Saha.
This is going to be a potentially cagey affair. The performance of Everton in the FA Cup tie, highlighted the inconsistency of the team, which has pretty much blighted the club for the majority of the season. But David Moyes, will without doubt drill some harsh truths into the players, and will do what he has to do most of the season, and that is to pick up the players, and do what he can to get the most out of them. But he can't do this by himself. The players need to really make up for the terrible performance against Reading. We lose the next two games, and other results go against us, we are in serious, serious trouble. As the rest of the fixtures show, there are by no means easy at all.