Competition: Premier League
Date: 29 November 2025
Kick-off: 23:00 (local time)
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton and Newcastle meet tonight in a fixture that feels bigger than the mid-table positions suggest. Both clubs have endured uneven starts, but with only three points between them, this game offers the chance to turn momentum before the festive schedule hits full speed. Under David Moyes, Everton have quietly rebuilt some resilience at home, while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are still searching for consistency away from Tyneside.
It has all the ingredients of a tight Premier League night under the lights: two tactically disciplined managers, midfield control at stake and enough individual quality on both sides to turn a tense game with a single moment. Earlier this month, we saw how a big derby can reshape the mood around a club — Everton and Newcastle will both be hoping for a similar psychological lift here.
Current Standings & Form Guide
| Team | Position | Points | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everton | 11th | 18 | L L D W W |
| Newcastle | 14th | 15 | L W L L W |
Everton arrive with the slightly stronger recent form thanks to back-to-back wins after a difficult spell. Newcastle remain unpredictable: capable of a statement victory one week and a flat performance the next. The table is compressed enough that a single result here can change the narrative for either side.
Season Statistics (2025/26 Premier League)
| Stat | Everton | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Matches played | 12 | 12 |
| Goals scored | 13 | 13 |
| Goals conceded | 13 | 15 |
| Clean sheets | 4 | 5 |
| Average SofaScore rating | 6.84 | 6.79 |
| Ball possession | 43.7% | 49.7% |
The numbers underline how evenly matched these sides are. Newcastle tend to see more of the ball, but Everton defend slightly better and have been more efficient in closing out tight games.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Everton (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
- Defence: James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Liam O’Brien, Vitaliy Mykolenko
- Midfield pivot: James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam
- Attacking midfield: Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye
- Striker: Barry
Moyes’s 4-2-3-1 leans heavily on Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall finding pockets between the lines, with Garner anchoring and Pickford starting attacks from deep. Everton’s shape is compact without the ball and built to spring quickly into transitions.
Newcastle (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale
- Defence: Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall
- Midfield: Bruno Guimarães, N. Woltemade, M. Thiaw
- Attack: Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes, Joelinton
Howe’s Newcastle line up in a fluid 4-3-3 with Bruno Guimarães orchestrating play from midfield. Width comes from Elanga and Barnes, while Joelinton’s work rate between the lines is crucial to both pressing and giving Newcastle a target when they go more direct.
For official last-minute team confirmations and late fitness updates, supporters can also check the Premier League’s official match centre closer to kick-off.
Key Players to Watch
Jack Grealish (Everton)
Grealish holds the highest average rating in the Everton squad and is vital for breaking Newcastle’s press. If he receives the ball on the half-turn around the edge of the box, he can create shooting chances for Barry or win set-pieces in dangerous areas.
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)
Bruno is Newcastle’s metronome. When he dictates the tempo and keeps Newcastle high up the pitch, Howe’s side look like a top-six outfit. If Everton manage to crowd him out, Newcastle can be forced into rushed long balls and errors.
Jordan Pickford vs Aaron Ramsdale
Both goalkeepers are capable of match-winning saves, but both also invite drama with their aggressive starting positions. One big stop or one misjudged decision could swing the game either way.
Tactical Themes & Key Battles
- Midfield control: Dewsbury-Hall and Garner versus Bruno and Joelinton will decide whether the game is played in Everton’s half or Newcastle’s.
- Wide duels: Elanga running at Everton’s full-backs could stretch the hosts, while Grealish drifting inside will test Newcastle’s defensive spacing.
- Set pieces: With Craig Pawson in charge and both teams physical, corners and free-kicks could be a major route to goal.
Referee & Managers
The match is officiated by Craig Pawson, whose numbers suggest a fairly strict but controlled game — he averages around four yellow cards per match, with red cards relatively rare. That should still suit teams that like to play on the edge in midfield.
In the dugouts it is David Moyes against Eddie Howe: one a master of compact, disciplined structures; the other more expansive but under pressure to tighten Newcastle’s defending away from home. The tactical duel should be as intriguing as any individual battle on the pitch.
Everton vs Newcastle Match Prediction
Everything points towards a match that is competitive and cagey rather than open. Everton’s home form and defensive organisation are improved, but Newcastle carry enough attacking talent to punish even small lapses.
Score prediction: Everton 1-1 Newcastle
Everton may find joy on the break through Grealish and Ndiaye, while Newcastle’s extra possession and set-piece threat should create chances of their own. A draw feels like the most realistic outcome, with both sides leaving the pitch believing they could — and maybe should — have taken more.
