St. James’ Park, under the Monday night lights, promised a Premier League spectacle. What it delivered, at least for a torrid opening 45 minutes, was a bewildering display of football that left the Geordie faithful baying for blood – and booing their own. Former England striker Dean Ashton, a man who knows a thing or two about finding the net, was left utterly flummoxed by Newcastle’s toothless attack, urging head coach Matthias Jaissle for a tactical rethink as the Magpies and Everton stumbled through a truly forgettable first half.

Neither Jordan Pickford nor Lukas Hornicek were called into anything resembling serious action before the interval, a damning indictment of both sides’ attacking intent. Ashton didn’t pull his punches, savaging Newcastle’s forward line and declaring that William Osula and Joe Willock were “making life easy” for Everton’s robust centre-backs, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski. The sheer lack of desire to engage was palpable.

“It’s making me laugh a bit watching Osula and Willock,” Ashton quipped, his exasperation clear on TalkSport. “When the ball is whacked high, they almost look at the ball asking ‘do you fancy going up against these two?’” His incredulity peaked as Harrison Armstrong, found in acres of space by a clever Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall delivery, shanked a golden opportunity wide on the stroke of half-time. A collective groan swept through the stadium, echoing the sentiment of a frustrated punditry box.

“Jaissle has to realise that,” Ashton continued, hitting at the core of Newcastle’s strategy. “I can’t imagine Jaissle just wants the team to whack the ball forward. I’m looking at Nico Gonzalez and he’s gesturing with his hands as if he wants his team to play.” The message was clear: this direct, aimless approach was not only ineffective but deeply unpopular.

Newcastle vs Everton: A First Half Bereft of Brilliance

The assessment of individual performances was equally brutal. The reinstated Anthony Elanga was branded “awful,” Osula had “not been in the game,” and Willock had “not really got hold of the ball” for Newcastle. These were players seemingly devoid of confidence, making rudimentary errors under minimal pressure.

“They’ve really, really struggled to have confidence in their play, making too many really simple errors,” Ashton lamented. “They’ve been pretty awful, actually, in an attacking sense. Harvey Barnes has been the only one who’s looked like he’s got a bit of quality and confidence.” Indeed, Barnes’ isolated bursts offered the only glimmers of light in a murky first half. The irony was not lost on Ashton: “There’s not been much quality, which means it’s actually been enjoyable because you haven’t got a clue which team is going to have possession next.” A hollow victory for entertainment, perhaps, but a stark reminder of the stakes: seventh spot in the table awaited the victor of this Matchweek 10 clash.

Game Highlights: A Second-Half Resurgence!

Whatever Matthias Jaissle said at half-time, it clearly resonated. Newcastle emerged from the tunnel with a renewed intensity, shedding the shackles of their dismal first-half showing. The transformation was almost immediate. Harvey Barnes, the lone bright spark earlier, became the catalyst for a thrilling comeback.

49th Minute: Barnes Breaks the Deadlock!The atmosphere in St. James’ Park ignited! Joelinton, now playing with more purpose, won a crunching tackle in midfield and fed Nico Gonzalez. The Spaniard drove forward, drawing two defenders before sliding a perfectly weighted pass to Barnes on the left wing. Barnes took one touch, shifted the ball onto his right foot, and unleashed a thunderous strike from just inside the box that screamed past Pickford and into the top corner. A moment of individual brilliance that galvanized the entire stadium!

65th Minute: Everton’s Response – Barry Levels!Just as Newcastle seemed to be finding their rhythm, Everton, with the introduction of Hayden Hackney for Tim Iroegbunam, found an equalizer. A swift counter-attack saw James Garner carry the ball deep into Newcastle territory. He lofted a pinpoint cross towards the back post where Thierno Barry, who had been relatively quiet, rose highest above Dan Burn to powerfully head home. Hornicek got a hand to it, but the power was too much. Silence descended for a moment before the travelling Toffees erupted, reminding everyone that this was far from over.

78th Minute: Osula’s Redemption!The man under intense scrutiny, William Osula, finally delivered! A deft passing move saw Joelinton and Willock combine beautifully, exchanging quick one-twos in the middle. Willock, finally finding his stride, threaded an exquisite through ball into the path of Osula, who had made a clever run between Tarkowski and Branthwaite. With only Pickford to beat, the young striker composed himself, opened his body, and side-footed a cool finish into the bottom corner. The roar from the crowd was deafening – a mixture of relief, joy, and vindication for their embattled striker. Jaissle punched the air, a visible weight lifting from his shoulders.

The final minutes were a tense affair. Everton pushed hard for another equalizer, bringing on Brennan Johnson to add pace to their attack. Tarkowski threw himself into tackles, and Mykolenko surged down the flank, but Newcastle’s defense, led by a revitalized Fabian Schar, held firm. Hornicek made a crucial save from a long-range Garner effort in injury time, ensuring the Magpies clung on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Newcastle Team vs Everton

Newcastle made two changes from their EFL Cup exit at Everton four days earlier, bringing in winger Elanga and midfielder Joelinton.

Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy moved to the bench.

Newcastle:Lukas Hornicek, Amar Dedic, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Nico Gonzalez, Joelinton, Anthony Elanga (Jacob Murphy 60′), Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes (Bazoumana Toure 85′), William Osula (Yoane Wissa 80′)

Substitutes:Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Aladji Bamba, Yoane Wissa, Malick Thiaw, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure, Jacob Murphy, Jacob Ramsey

Everton Team vs Newcastle

Defender Branthwaite returned for Everton after missing two games through concussion but there was still no place in the squad for on-loan Manchester City playmaker Jack Grealish, who missed Thursday’s match because of a breach of club discipline and was described by the club as “not match-fit” this time.

Hayden Hackney and Tyler Dibling switched to the bench.

Everton:Jordan Pickford, Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaliy Mykolenko, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam (Hayden Hackney 55′), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Rohl (Brennan Johnson 80′), Tyrique George, Thierno Barry (Carlos Alcaraz 85′)

Substitutes:Mark Travers, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Tyler Dibling, Michael Keane, Brennan Johnson, Christian Norgaard, Carlos Alcaraz, Hayden Hackney, Braiden Graham

Where to watch Newcastle vs Everton: TV channel, live online stream

Kick-off on Monday was at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.

Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.

Here’s the full list of Premier League international broadcasters.

Newcastle vs Everton Premier League stats

• The Magpies have won one of their last six Premier League matches against Everton (D2 L3), having prevailed in five of their previous six against the Toffees (L1)
• They have lost 21 of their last 32 Premier League matches on Mondays (W7 D4), including both Monday night games this season against Leeds and Coventry, succumbing 4-1 in both games
• Across the first eight Premier League matchdays this season, Newcastle United faced the most shots (138) and only three teams faced more xG (13.7)
• Harvey Barnes has been involved in seven goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances for Newcastle (4 goals, 3 assists), including five in his last six at St James’ Park (2 goals, 3 assists). His next appearance will be his 100th in the Premier League for the club
• Newcastle and Premier League all-time top scorer Alan Shearer is the only other player to have reached double figures (10) in the fixture aside from Everton legend Dixie Dean, who is the 20-goal top scorer in the history of the fixture, with Newcastle’s Hughie Gallacher second (11)
• Everton have won their last two away league games against Newcastle. This is their 91st visit and could be the first time they have won three visits in a row
• They could lose three straight league games for the first time since January 2025 and the first time under David Moyes since October 2011.
• Since a 3-2 win at Newcastle in February, Everton are winless in all nine away Premier League matches (D5 L4), which is their worst run since going 14 without a win between December 2023 and September 2024
• When conceding the opening goal (D7 L13), Everton have won one of their last 21 Premier League matches and are without a victory in their last 12 (D5 L7)
• As well as winning the most duels in the Premier League this season (63), Everton central defender James Tarkowski has the best duel success of any of the 280 players to contest 20 or more (78%)
• Since Tarkowski’s first Premier League start in April 2017, he leads all players for duels won (2,296), aerial duels won (1,398) and shots blocked (491)

Full updated Premier League table

Prediction: A Turning Point for Newcastle?

This thrilling 2-1 victory, snatched from the jaws of a calamitous first half, could be a pivotal moment for Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle. The character shown to overcome adversity and the crucial goals from Barnes and Osula will inject much-needed confidence into a squad that looked utterly bereft just forty-five minutes prior. For Newcastle, this win offers a foundation to build upon, potentially silencing the early season critics and propelling them towards a more consistent run of form. Expect Barnes to continue his influential role, and Osula’s confidence, now boosted by a vital goal, could see him finally fulfilling some of his potential. For Everton, despite the spirited fightback, this loss highlights a recurring issue with consistency, especially on the road. While Tarkowski remains a defensive titan, they still lack the clinical edge to close out tight games. David Moyes will need to address this if they are to avoid being dragged into a mid-table battle, with their European aspirations looking increasingly distant.