Everton Currently 'Talk Of The Toon'

Last updated : 13 December 2017 By Footy Mad - Editor

Newcastle v Everton (1945 GMT)

Tyneside stages a match with two teams heading in opposite directions - indeed they have passed one another like ships in the night recently in the Premier League standings.

Image result for Newcastle UnitedEverton are obviously talk of the town after holding neighbours Liverpool to a draw at Anfield on Sunday and this represents another big showdown for Sam Allardyce as he takes his new team to one of his former haunts.

He did not last a year at St James’ Park and I don’t doubt for a moment he will have been scheming furiously to get one over Toon with all the hype over the Merseyside derby finished for the time being.

His side obviously put a lot of effort and more importantly, emotion, into the latter fixture so it will be down to Allardyce to pick them up once again in a bid to keep his unbeaten start at Goodison Park going.

Big Sam’s opposite number Rafa Benitez can’t catch a break currently and his side have managed to gain just one point from their last seven games after they were sunk by an unfortunate last-gasp own goal against Leicester.

There are goals in the team with Dwight Gayle looking sharp on a regular basis having set up one and scored another against the Foxes but getting caught at the back remains a serious issue until calming influence and club captain Jamaal Lascelles gets back to take a grip of the situation.