Everton punish Kieran Trippier howlers to climb out of drop zone

If you did not already believe Everton were good enough to get out of relegation trouble, this performance and result surely proves it.

Rather than dishearten, the 10-point penalty for breaking profit and sustainability rules appears to have inspired. The burning sense of injustice felt is fuelling players and fans alike. More of this and they could be well clear of the drop zone when the Christmas decorations come down.

This was only Everton’s second home win in the league this season, but it was their fifth in seven games in all competitions. They are out of the bottom three and do not look like going back.

The hosts were everything manager Sean Dyche would have wanted them to be, direct and confrontational, knocking Newcastle out of their stride, rushing and harassing them. The only disappointment was that they missed so many chances before Dwight McNeil finally took advantage of a tired looking Newcastle defence, advancing unchallenged after a mistake from Kieran Trippier and smashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Trippier has been Newcastle’s most consistent player this season and it summed up how exhausted they were when he made the same mistake again, losing the ball deep inside his own half and this time McNeil set up Abdoulaye Doucouré for the second. By the time substitute Beto ran in from the halfway line, the men in black and white stripes were out on their feet.

This was an uncomfortable evening for Newcastle, who were bound to suffer eventually with so many players out injured.

It was especially hard for Anthony Gordon on his return to his former club. He was booed and jeered and then dumped on the turf inside the first minute. Goodison Park roared its approval. Gordon looked rattled, repeatedly giving the ball away after that. He will have known what was coming his way, the animosity caused by his behaviour trying to force his departure in January is no secret, but for the first time this season, he looked unsure and hesitant when he got the ball.

Newcastle’s defence was put under immediate pressure, bombarded with high balls that it struggled to clear. Nothing fell for a player in blue to test goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, but it was encouraging for the home side and they continued to expose a new-found frailty in the Newcastle back line. Dominic Calvert-Lewin got on the end of two crosses in quick succession, making a mess of the first from Jack Harrison before leaping magnificently to get on the end of another from McNeil, only to direct it straight into the arms of Dubravka.

Calvert-Lewin was causing all sorts of problems but could not do the most important thing of all, put the ball in the net. Played in by Harrison, he was denied by an excellent save from Dubravka, diving low to his right. If you were being ultra-critical, though, the shot lacked power.

But worse was to come from Everton’s No 9 just before the break. Once again Newcastle could not deal with a long ball into the box, this time launched by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from a free kick on the halfway line. The ball bounced perfectly off Jamaal Lascelles for him to control on his chest, unmarked inside the six yard box. The supporters were rising to celebrate the goal but fell back into their seats as he blazed wildly over.

Newcastle could not get going, but they still created chances of their own. Miguel Almiron got the ball stuck under his feet after he was played in by Joelinton and Trippier curled a free kick into the arms of Pickford.

They will also feel they should have scored before half time. Their best move of the match, the ball working its way forward for Trippier to deliver a trademark cross on the run. Alexander Isak was in the perfect position, like Calvert-Lewin six yards out, but put his header wide.

Everton were playing with confidence. The game plan was simple. Get the ball forward early and into the box as often as possible. Another cross at the start of the second half, won in the air by Calvert-Lewin, bounced off Lascelles and was almost fumbled into his own goal by Dubrakva.

Pressure was building. Newcastle initially refused to wilt. They are not a side that tends to crumble in adversity. But they would tire. With the same 11 players starting for the fourth game in a row and nothing on the bench to improve them, fatigue caught up with them in the end.

Everton out of relegation zone: as it happened

10:11 PM GMT

Eddie Howe speaks to Amazon Prime

On the performance: “The first half was very even but its was a scrappy game that we didn’t stamp our authority on enough. We had our best spell in the second half, where we kept them camped in for 15/20 minutes. Then we shot ourselves in the foot.”

On Keiran Trippier: “He’s been absolutely magnificent since coming here. You could say he’s been the catalyst behind what we’ve done. As a team today we weren’t where we needed to be tonight.”

On the upcoming schedule: “We have more games to come and there’s no break ahead for us. Tonight was probably a combination of a lot of things. Today we didn’t perform and we have to take ownership of that. We certainly have plenty to reflect on.”

09:45 PM GMT

What it means...

And on the flip side...

09:41 PM GMT

What about Newcastle?

I mentioned early in the second half that while Newcastle would have been happy to come out at 0-0, they had created little.

Any assumption that they could go up a level quickly disappeared and they looked leaden-legged by the final whistle. With matches against Spurs and AC Milan upcoming, Eddie Howe has some work to do with a seriously depleted and, on this evidence, tired squad.

09:36 PM GMT

Tempers running high

Joelinton, Tarkowski and Pickford and three of a number of players to be involved in a disagreement after the final whistle. Looks a bit hand-bags-ish from here and quickly dissipates.

Goodison is rocking.

09:34 PM GMT

FULL TIME: EVE 3 NEW 0

What a result for Everton and Sean Dyche. Just 20 days after being plunged into the bottom three after a 10-point deduction they are out of the relegation zone.

09:30 PM GMT

GOAL STANDS

Beto has his first Everton goal and Everton are out of the bottom three.

09:28 PM GMT

GOAAALLLLLLLLL

Everton 3 Newcastle 0

Everton hold the ball well, working a position for replacement Beto down the right. His fresher legs carry his past Schar and despite losing his footing momentarily, he manages to finish past Dubravka.

Var is checking for offside though...

09:27 PM GMT

90 mins+4: EVE 2 NEW 0

Fair play to Everton here. These last five minutes have been classic Dyche. Controlled, throttling their opponents in the dying embers. It does need to be said though that Newcastle looked virtually dead on their feet.

09:25 PM GMT

90 mins+2: EVE 2 NEW 0

Isak gets on the end of a lofted ball in a dangerous area. He tries to round Pickford, and does, but his touch is too heavy and carries him and the ball out of play. Ironic cheers go up around Goodison. They’re nearly there.

09:22 PM GMT

90 mins: EVE 2 NEW 0

To add insult to injury, Jamal Lascelles looks to have picked up a problem. He’s limping off in the closing stages here.

TEN MINUTES ADDED ON! Hold on folks. We are far from done yet.

09:18 PM GMT

GOAAALLLLLLLLL

Everton 2 Newcastle 0

Ugly end to this game for Kieran Trippier. He’s again at fault for giving the ball away inside his own half and Everton take full advantage as Abdoulaye Doucouré gets on the end of a cut-back cross from Nathan Patterson has the easiest of finishes from the middle of the area.

09:18 PM GMT

83 mins: EVE 1 NEW 0

Everton want another to put this beyond doubt. Newcastle look tired and leggy here and Howe has little to turn to on the bench. Harrison looks to take on a curling shot but the deflection goes wide for a corner.

09:14 PM GMT

81 mins: EVE 1 NEW 0

Newcastle come within inches of levelling. Livramento’s shanked shot bounces into a dangerous area and Almiron looks to just help it on with his head. It beats Pickford before coming to rest on top of the net.

09:11 PM GMT

GOAAALLLLLLLLL

Everton 1 Newcastle 0

Trippier loses the ball in a dangerous position but this is all about Dwight McNeil, who picks the ball up and skips forward before smashing a left-footed shot past Dubravka. Finally a bit of quality in the final third and Everton lead!

09:09 PM GMT

76 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

A problem for Jordan Pickford here. He looks to have tweaked his knee or calf when trying to clear the ball under pressure from Isak.

09:08 PM GMT

74 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

It’s Doucoure this time who has a chance. Young clips a ball into the back post but the Everton midfielder gets no power on his header at all despite being completely unmarked. Another let off.

09:04 PM GMT

70 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Who can break the dead-lock here? It has the odour of a stalemate at present, with neither side showing any composure at all in front of goal. Big last 20 minutes for both sides.

09:00 PM GMT

67 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

The sloppy finishing continues but this time it’s Everton. Doucoure pulls the ball down on the edge of the area and rolls a pass into Gueye. The subsequent left-footed effort is ugly. I’ll leave it at that.

08:58 PM GMT

64 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Gordon again and the chance goes begging again. Isak does well with some smart hold-up play and then feeds an excellent pass onto the on-running Gordon. He has the chance to carry the ball a touch further perhaps but takes on an ambitious effort in the circumstances that doesn’t ask Pickford any questions.

08:55 PM GMT

62 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Now that is a chance for Anthony Gordon. He sneaks in behind Tarkowski and has a great chance to test Pickford. He tries to reverse his shot but Pickford is wise to it, holding his balance to claim the low shot. Big let off for the hosts.

08:53 PM GMT

60 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Dubravka reels in pain after a seemingly innocuous coming together with Calvert-Lewin. Not a lot in it and for my money the keeper might be trying to curry some favour with the referee there...not that that kind of thing is a regular occurrence in modern football at all.

08:50 PM GMT

58 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Schar picks up the ball inside his own half and just biffs it long, with no target seemingly. A telling pass within the context of this match. Newcastle look a little out of ideas here at present. The longer this stays goalless the more Everton will fancy this.

08:47 PM GMT

54 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Gordon gets a hint of space on the edge of the box and opens up his body as he tries to whip one into the top-right corner. He fails to get the whip he needs though and the ball sails a good 15 yards wide, much to the delight of the Goodison faithful.

08:45 PM GMT

52 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

It’s clear the patterns Newcastle are trying to get into but whether it’s the Everton defensive press or just lack of execution, they just can’t maintain spells of pressure on the hosts’ goal.

08:43 PM GMT

50 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Early pressure on Newcastle. Dubravka paddles at a high corner from the right, conceding another. Calvert-Lewin then rises high, heading down into the six-yard box and getting a deflection off Lascelles, causing panic in the Newcastle defence.

08:41 PM GMT

48 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Anthony Gordon is still the pantomime villain here, make no mistake. He knocks off a quick one-two with Miley and the roof feels like it’s about to come off at Goodison such is the contempt.

08:39 PM GMT

45 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Everton will feel like they should be ahead and while there will be obvious frustration they aren’t, Newcastle didn’t exactly pull up any roots in that first 45. It does feel, though, like Eddie Howe’s side has another couple of notches to go to at the very least.

08:36 PM GMT

Players are out for the second half

The result of this one is still anyones guess.

08:31 PM GMT

Here's that Calvert-Lewin chance again...

Sean Dyche must be tearing his hair out...[irony not lost on me]

08:22 PM GMT

HALF TIME: EVE 0 NEW 0

Honours even at half-time but Everton will feel they should have at least broken the deadlock. Domininc Calvert-Lewin had four chances in that first half, one of which should have resulted in a goal.

You can’t help but feel like that sort of wastefulness will get punished against this strong, if under-manned, Newcastle outfit.

08:20 PM GMT

45+4 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Wry smile on Anthony Gordon’s face after he’s called for a foul on Pickford. The Everton keeper sees the funny side, the Everton fans do not.

08:17 PM GMT

45 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Newcastle want a penalty here. Branthwaite went up for a header but knocked into a falling Schar inside the area. Certainly not a foul and both medical teams are on the pitch having a look at the two after that nasty collision.

Three minutes added on.

08:14 PM GMT

43 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

The Var is talking to the referee about something off the ball. Something in the area maybe? It looked like Tarkowski and Joelinto getting into it. No foul.

08:13 PM GMT

42 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Carlvert-Lewin does well to muscle Trippier off the ball by the corner flag and is then brought down, cynically, by the England right-back. No yellow for Trippier. Lucky.

08:11 PM GMT

40 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Oh my...

What a chance for Calvert-Lewin. He has oodles of time to chest the ball down inside the box. The ball is a little high but should be well within his reach but instead the striker gets his effort all wrong, spooning it over Dubravka’s bar.

08:10 PM GMT

38 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Remiss of me not to mention that Gueye has now been booked. The Fernandinho impression is over.

08:08 PM GMT

36 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Isak is inches away from giving Newcastle the lead. Lovely work down the right from Miley, who turns on a sixpence and rolls the ball back to Trippier. His cross is perfect, finding Isak between Everton defenders.

The striker’s header is well directed and has Pickford scrambling. The England keeper looks delighted to see the ball drift wide.

08:04 PM GMT

33 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Newcastle are just clawing the initiative here. Trippier goes flying on the overlap and is fed neatly by Isak. The England right-back’s pulled-back cross is into a dangerous area but finds only blue shirts.

08:03 PM GMT

31 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Big chance for Everton but Dwight McNeil scuffs his effort on his favoured left side. Another chance goes begging for the home side.

At the other end, Newcastle want a penalty for handball before Tarkowski puts in an incredible block/challenge on Guimaraes as the latter unleashes a shot from inside the penalty area.

08:00 PM GMT

29 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Another foul by Geuye, this time on Gordon, and again he escapes a yellow card. This is prime Fernaninho stuff from Gueye at present in terms of yellow card avoidance. Robinson does speak to him this time though. You feel his patience is wearing thin.

07:58 PM GMT

27 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Gueye scyths down Trippier. How he has not got a yellow there is beyond me. The referee Tim Robinson is certainly letting this one flow at present. Full-blooded, and in this case mis-timed, challenges going unpunished at present.

07:56 PM GMT

25 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Everton are dropping into a rigid defensive shape when out of possession and appear fine with dropping deep, allowing Newcastle time in possession. This really is Dyche-ball in action – you just love to see it.

Gordon is still getting all sorts from the crowd. Can’t see that ceasing at any point this evening.

07:54 PM GMT

23 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Newcastle are trying to take the early sting out of this game but Everton are forcing them into dangerous mistakes in their own half. Even Kieran Trippier looks a shade rattled in possession.

07:52 PM GMT

21 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Harrison drifts inside and plays a clever ball straight into the path of Calvert-Lewin but his right-footed shot is mis-hit, allowing Dubravka to get down and parry with his right hand.

More early pressure for Everton but still no goal. Same story for Sean Dyche.

07:50 PM GMT

19 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

At the other end, Calvert-Lewin has a chance to get his head on a lovely floated cross from Harrison but the Everton No 9 gets in a muddle and heads over.

Moments later, Calvert-Lewin is again leaping like a salmon, this time to get on a cross from McNeil. He makes better contact this time but it’s straight at Dubravka.

07:48 PM GMT

17 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Good opening for Newcastle as Joelinton turns well in the middle of the park and then slips a clever ball into Almiron. The Paraguayan has a step on Mykolenko but the ball gets caught in his feet and Pickford clears.

07:47 PM GMT

15 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Mykolenko is pulled up for a foul on Almiron, who turned him smartly and looked clear had it not been the offence. Lucky not to pick up a yellow there methinks.

07:43 PM GMT

12 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Livramento drives into the heart of the Everton defence and picks up a cheap foul courtesy of Gueye. This feels very much like Keiran Trippier range...

Straight at Pickford. Easy work for the Everton keeper.

07:42 PM GMT

10 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Four early touches for Anthony Gordon and four times he’s given it away. Everton – and Coleman in particular – are giving him no time at all to operate, motivated both by his red-hot form and his status as persona non grata at Goodison.

07:39 PM GMT

8 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

All Everton at the start here. Newcastle look a shade off the pace in the early skirmishes but the hosts are yet to generate a guilt-edged chance for all their early dominance.

07:38 PM GMT

6 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Ashley Young chops down Gordon, much to the delight of the Goodison faithful. Everton then launch an attack and have Newcastle stretched. The ball falls to Young on the right side of the area, whose shot cannons off Livramento for a corner.

07:35 PM GMT

4 mins: EVE 0 NEW 0

Bit of a scramble in the Newcastle box as they fail to deal with a cross from the left , allowing Gueye and Harrison chances to pull the trigger. Schar gets the first block in as the visitors clear their lines.

07:33 PM GMT

2 min: EVE 0 NEW 0

Huge boos ring around Goodison as Anthony Gordon picks up the ball for the first time. The sure thing lands. Early possession is all Newcastle’s but there is little threat yet with the hosts keeping them penned in their own half.

07:31 PM GMT

Seconds out...

We are underway

07:30 PM GMT

Cracking atmosphere at Goodison

Boos, cheers...we’ve had the full spectrum of crowd reactions already and we haven’t even got underway yet.

Huge roar for Seamus Coleman as he’s announced over the PA system.

07:28 PM GMT

Our man reports from Goodison

If Everton are going to get out of trouble at the bottom of the table they need to vastly improve their home form. They have only beaten Bournemouth at Goodison Park this season.

Equally, if Newcastle are going to grab another top four finish they need to start winning away from fortress St James’ Park. Eddie Howe’s side have only won once on the road this season, the 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United back in September. What price a draw?

07:24 PM GMT

Five minutes to kick-off...

Things are starting to bubble nicely at Goodison. Feel like we could be in for a good one tonight.

07:17 PM GMT

Coleman returns

Everton’s plight this season has been well-documented and with that in mind it feels like the perfect time to be getting their captain Seamus Coleman back.

07:13 PM GMT

Eddie Howe gives his thoughts pre-match

“We know we need to improve our away form. We will have to be at our very best tonight.

“Collectively they have really stepped up. It has been a difficult run of fixtures. There’s been a big expectation on the lads and they have done ever so well.”

On Martin Dubravka getting his chance: “We are very confident in Martin, we have always believed he is an outstanding goalkeeper. He comes in and it is a great opportunity for him. He is very experienced and I think he is ideal for this situation.”

07:12 PM GMT

Props to the DJ

Love Inc’s ‘You’re a Superstar’ echoes around Goodison during the player warm-ups. A personal favourite of mine. I’d advise readers to either familiarise or indeed re-familiarise themselves with the late-90s banger.

07:08 PM GMT

Sean Dyche speaks to Amazon Prime

“A couple of changes enforced on us but still think we can take this game and get what we want.

“Newcastle have done very well, particularly at home, away has been challenging and we have to capitalise on that.

“I know they have a few injuries but that is still a good side.”

07:07 PM GMT

Telling stat

Sean Dycke won three of his first four home games in charge at Everton. Since then, his side have won just two of their ensuing 12 matches at Goodison Park with Bournemouth the victims on both occasions.

More needed.

06:59 PM GMT

Weather watch

A drizzly night is expected in Liverpool this evening, with the temperature not expected to exceed six or possibly seven degrees.

A good night to be in the warmth of the Telegraph offices methinks.

06:57 PM GMT

All is not yet forgiven on Merseyside...

06:56 PM GMT

No Garner for Everton

James Garner has been a steady influence in the middle of the park for Eveton thus far this season, but misses out tonight with illness.

Dyche said: “Jimmy Garner, who has been in great form, has gone down with a sickness bug. It hit today and therefore we couldn’t really do anything about it.”

06:49 PM GMT

Newcastle injury crisis

Make no mistake, Eddie Howe is operating amid huge adversity at present due, in large part, to Newcastle’s mounting injury list. Nick Pope joined the likes of Callum Wilson, Sven Botman and Sean Longstaff on the sidelines after getting injured against Forest, leaving Howe to shuffle the deck yet again.

Howe, though, has said the squads true colours have shone through amid their injury problems. “We have a group of incredible characters who are prepared to give everything physically and mentally to achieve success,” he said. “We’ve got some really good leaders as well that are pushing and helping everybody to perform at a very good level.”

06:41 PM GMT

Dyche hails 'internal progress'

“The noise is just noise - it is just there. The progress is internal progress. The feel in the camp and the quality. We’ve taken a knock with the deduction but stayed firm.

“One result didn’t go our way [the defeat to Manchester United ], but the next one did and that is because they are sticking to their belief in themselves.

“It is up to us to figure out a way of winning games.”

06:38 PM GMT

Coleman returns

Sean Dyche makes two changes to his side from their win at Nottingham Forest. Seamus Coleman makes his first start since May having recovered from a knee injury, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin starts having overcome a calf problem.

06:36 PM GMT

Gordon back at Goodison

There’s just one enforced change for Newcastle, with Martin Dubravka coming in for the injured Nick Pope. Otherwise, Eddie Howe sticks with the same side who comprehensively beat Man Ut at St James’s Park on Saturday.

One player will be in the glare of the spotlight more than any other tonight – Anthony Gordon.

The Liverpool native joined Everton aged 11 and returns to Goodison for just the second time since moving to St James’s Park in January 2023 in a deal north of £40 million.

06:31 PM GMT

Newcastle starting XI

06:30 PM GMT

Everton starting XI

06:27 PM GMT

Big night at Goodison

Two sides fighting at either end of the Premier League table meet at Goodison tonight but any suggestion this will be a walkover for Newcastle appear sorely misguided.

A 10-point deduction certainly stung Everton but the effect appears to have been somewhat galvanising for Sean Dyche, his squad and the supporters.

Three wins from their last five league games suggest there are shoots of green on the blue side of Merseyside and indeed Everton can move out of the bottom three this evening with three points.

However, the missing piece for Dyche amid this mini resurgence is his side’s form at home.

Goodison is rightly lauded for being a tough place to go but with  just four points from their seven home league games so far this season, Everton have found the going tough on their home patch.

Indeed, even the cacophony of noise emitted during Man Utd’s visit here two weeks ago did little to assist Dyche’s men as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat.

To ensure safety, their home form simply must turn around – making tonight’s visit of Newcastle all the more intriguing.

Eddie Howe’s side have got back on track in recent weeks and would be arriving at Everton the winners of three straight had Var not intervened incorrectly in the dying embers of their trip to PSG in Champions League.

A home win against Man Utd at the weekend – in about as dominant a style as possible in a 1-0 win – suggested Howe and his side are ready to go on surge in the run-up to Christmas. Indeed they will sit just point below fourth-place Man City should they win tonight.

Full team news coming your way shortly.

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