Back on February 8 in Frank Lampard’s first Premier League match as manager, Everton suffered a double blow against Newcastle United. Not only did the Blues fail to pick up points themselves but the 3-1 loss at St James’ Park enabled their hosts to seemingly come back from the dead in terms of their own relegation fight.
The Magpies went into the game in 19th place in the table but by the time the final whistle went they were out of the bottom three and within just a point of the Blues. Fast-forward a further five weeks and while only goal difference now separates Lampard’s men from the drop zone, Eddie Howe’s side find themselves nine points better off than Everton and up to the relative dizzying heights of 14th.
What has been difference since then? Well a major cash injection from Newcastle’s mega-rich Saudi owners in the January transfer window obviously helped bolster the side. Kieran Trippier netted his first goal since the opening day of the 2018/19 season against Everton and like buses another one came along straight away as he grabbed the match-winner in the next fixture against Aston Villa. But after going off in the same game with a broken foot he hasn’t featured since and might be out for the remainder of the campaign.
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Striker Chris Wood has netted just once in nine games since his arrival but it was an important goal as he and fellow new boy Bruno Guimaraes both broke their duck in the 2-1 victory at Southampton last Thursday while 6ft 6in Blyth-born Dan Burn – who has already scored at Goodison Park this season, helping Brighton & Hove Albion to their first victory on the ground in 109 years of trying back in January – has provided a towering presence in defence following a return to his native North East.
Since the two sides met, Everton have played five Premier League fixtures, winning one and losing four while Newcastle have played six, winning four, drawing one and losing just once – last time out to Chelsea. When breaking down each side’s play during this period, it’s going forward where Newcastle have looked more dominant with the Blues having failed to score in those four straight defeats.
Comparisonator shows that since their last meeting, Newcastle are getting more shots in than Everton (12.17 to 9.6) and more of them are on target (4.67 to 2.8), ensuring expected goal figures of 1.42 to 0.82. However, when it comes to the number of attacking actions between the sides, the Magpies are only marginally ahead (45.83 to 42.2) and 19.5 to 18 for successful attacking actions which suggests the Blues are still getting in the right areas but haven’t been able to work the opposition goalkeeper. One attacking area in which Lampard’s side have the edge though is when they’re running with the ball as they have slightly more dribbles (21.6 to 20.33) and successful dribbles (13.8 to 11).
Howe’s Bournemouth teams had a reputation for spraying the ball about but the possession-based approach Lampard is trying to implement at Everton is borne out in the statistics.
While Newcastle’s direct play is evident through having more long passes (40.83 to 35.6), successful long passes (29.17 to 22.4), crosses (13.33 to 11) and successful crosses (3.83 to 1.4), Everton are ahead when it comes to passes (418.2 to 375.33), successful passes (340.2 to 287.83), key passes (7.8 to 4.67), passes to the final third (141.8 to 135.33) and successful passes to the final third (96.4 to 90.33).
Ultimately though they need to make these balls more penetrative if they’re to pull off a crucial victory on Thursday night because there’s now no more room for slip ups.
- Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters. Click here for more details.
