Everton vs Newcastle United Preview: Dyche’s future on the line

Everton will look to build momentum after getting off the mark in the Premier League when they take on Newcastle United at Goodison Park next Saturday.

The Toffees flipped the script last weekend, going from turning leads into defeats to clawing back from a deficit to get on the winning side in a 2-1 home triumph against Crystal Palace.

Sometimes, it can be cruel to watch football live, especially when your team has a habit of taking early advantages only to throw them away down the final stretch.

That’s been a recurring theme for Everton this season until they decided it was best to be on the trailing end at the start.

Dwight McNeil’s quick-fire second-half double overturned Palace’s half-time lead at Goodison last Saturday to inspire the Merseyside outfit to their first league win in 2024/25.

Under-pressure manager Sean Dyche lauded his team’s ‘superb’ reaction in his post-game interview with BBC, but he cannot get too comfortable just yet.

Dyche still not off the hook

With the Friedkin Group on the verge of purchasing Everton from Farhad Moshri, Dyche’s uncertain future at Goodison remains among the major talking points.

Newcastle’s upcoming visit to Merseyside could cast more doubt on the 53-year-old’s career in Liverpool after they held Manchester City to a spirited 1-1 draw last weekend.

Eddie Howe’s men have only lost one of their last four league clashes against the Toffees (W2, D1), though that only defeat came in this corresponding fixture in 2023/24.

Dyche’s charges humbled the Magpies 3-0 in December 2023 before eking out a 1-1 stalemate at St James’ Park in April this year.

It’s time to issue a statement

At this point, a win against any side would do for Dyche.

However, if Everton can topple Newcastle, it could prove a turning point not just for Dyche’s career at Goodison but the Toffees’ overall league campaign.

The last four meetings between these two teams on this ground have fluctuated between victories for either outfit.

Everton will hope to buck that trend this weekend and post back-to-back home wins against the Magpies for the first time since 2018.