In-form Everton to end Newcastle’s Champions League dream
Published:It is a testament to Newcastle’s terrific season that they have secured Europa League qualification with a game to spare, regardless of whether they justify 9/5 odds to beat Everton on Sunday.
The Magpies are currently one point away from fourth-placed Tottenham, and sit two points adrift of Arsenal, who occupy the third place position that guarantees Champions League qualification.
As neither of their rivals have straightforward remaining fixtures though, Newcastle will be doing all in their power to ensure that they capitalise should Spurs or the Gunners slip up against Fulham and West Brom respectively.
Sunday’s clash could prove one of Newcastle’s greatest tests of the season however, as they meet an Everton side who have won their last three Goodison Park fixtures in succession.
Their last two home matches have reaped 4-0 scorelines in the hosts’ favour, and each of their three back-to-back wins have come without the Toffees conceding.
David Moyes’ men are a big 13/10 to win this weekend in light of this superb recent home form, and they will be spurred on to achieve a higher placed finish than Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
A draw too could be enough to ensure this, and the stalemate can be backed at 5/2, though it has been four years since these teams last cancelled each other out at Goodison Park.
Newcastle triumphed in the reverse fixture earlier this season, winning 2-1 at St. James’s Park, though that scoreline came in Everton’s favour in the same match last term.
It is 9/1 about Newcastle winning via that scoreline again on Sunday, whilst Everton are afforded an 8/1 price to achieve victory by the same margin.
Goals for either side would appear likely, given the blistering form of either club’s January signings Nikica Jelavic and Papiss Cisse, who have hit a combined 23 goals since moving to England.
Punters can take advantage of 4/6 odds about both teams finding the net this weekend.
