Chris Sutton not wrong as ‘nightmare’ Everton prediction made for Newcastle United clash
Chris Sutton believes Everton’s inconsistent form will continue away at Newcastle United.
The Toffees are still in with a chance of European football next season, despite winning just one of their last five Premier League games.
David Moyes‘ side currently sit ninth in the table, just three points behind seventh-place Brentford, with 11 games remaining of the campaign.
However, defeat to Newcastle on Saturday afternoon could see them slip as low as 14th by the end of weekend, such is the compact nature of the top-flight this season.
Chris Sutton tips Everton to secure point at Newcastle
Like Everton, Newcastle have been incredibly inconsistent in recent months, which leaves them 11th in the Premier League.
The Magpies can go above Moyes’s side with a win, and have managed victory in four of their last five games.
However, two of those were against Qarabag in the Champions League, and in the top-flight, Eddie Howe’s side have won just one of their last six.
Former Premier League winner Sutton believes that Everton will secure a 1-1 draw away at St James’ Park.
In his BBC Sport column, Sutton admitted that the Toffees are extremely hard to predict given their inconsistency, but that he has a sneaky feeling they will get something out of the game.
He said: “Everton’s inconsistency makes them an absolute nightmare to predict, and the fact their away form is much better than their home results doesn’t help me much here either.
“The Magpies won 4-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in November and I’d usually back them in this kind of game at St James’ Park and be quite confident they would win.
“But Everton won here last season and, given how good they are on the road, I just have a sneaky feeling they will get something this time too.”
David Moyes must learn lessons from reverse fixture
Sutton mentions the reverse fixture in his predictions, and it certainly was a terrible evening for the Toffees back at the end of November.
Malick Thiaw headed Newcastle into the lead at Hill Dickinson Stadium in the opening minute, with goals from Lewis Miley and Nick Woltemade giving them a three-goal advantage at the break.
Thiaw grabbed his second of the evening just after the hour mark, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s consolation did little to lift the mood on Merseyside.
Moyes must learn from that catastrophic display three months ago and ensure that his side get off to a much better start on this occasion.
For more detailed analysis on Everton, visit Football Insider.