Let’s take a look at the Premier League Player Ratings from the showdown between Everton and Newcastle United over at Goodison Park.
Callum Wilson bagged a second-half brace to end Newcastle’s 11-match winless run in a 2-0 triumph over Everton.
Steve Bruce’s side arrived at Goodison Park on the back of five consecutive league defeats and without a single victory across 11 games in all competitions. Hence, the pressure was on to deliver in Merseyside.
Although Everton, who hoped to grab a victory to bolster their top four prospects, arguably had the better chances in the first-half. Yerry Mina’s header almost broke the deadlock, while Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow saved a James Rodriguez effort. The visitors, meanwhile, only really challenged Jordan Pickord on one occasion when the Blues shot-stopper had to pull off a finger tip save from a Wilson header.
Everton proceeded to dominate possession after the break, but couldn’t turn their advantage into opportunities. And Newcastle, using a new 4-4-2 diamond formation, held their nerve to capatilize on Carlo Ancelotti’s side failure.
10 – Callum Wilson has scored 10 Premier League goals in 19 appearances for Newcastle, becoming the fastest Magpies player to reach 10 goals in the top-flight since Loïc Rémy in December 2013 (16 apps). Bracing. #EVENEW pic.twitter.com/CsXn4bXW1D
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 30, 2021
Wilson was the man of the hour when he headed home Jonjo Shelvey’s corner in the 73rd-minute, ending a seven-match goalless run in the process. And shortly after hitting the post, the Magpies’ top-scorer added a second goal in stoppage-time to seal all three points.
The victory serves a huge boost for Newcastle manager Bruce, who has come under-fire recently. Not only did it end the club’s winless streak, along with a seven-match losing streak on the road, but it moved them nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Everton, on the other hand, lost the chance to move within a point of city rivals Liverpool for the final top-four spot.
Player Ratings
Everton: Pickford (6); Coleman (6), Mina (6), Keane (6), Digne (7); Doucoure (6), Sigurosson (6); Iwobi (6), Rodriguez (6), Richarlison (7); Calvert-Lewin (6).
Bench: Gomes (6)
Newcastle: Darlow (8); Manquillo (7), Lascelles (6), Schar (7), Lewis (7); Hendrick (6), Hayden (7), Shelvey (7); Almiron (7); Wilson (8), Fraser (7).
Bench: Clark (6), Saint-Maximin (6).
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