Dwight McNeil is relishing playing in a central role in Everton's attack, as he aims to get Sean Dyche's team up the Premier League. (More Football News)
McNeil scored twice in the space of se🌟ven minutes, with𓃲 his first being a wonderful strike from outside of the box, as Everton came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday.
That marked the Toffees' first league win of the season, with Newcastle United next up at 𓃲Goodison Park.
McNeil, who scored and assisted in Everton's 3-0 win in the corresponding fixture against Newcastle last season, has created 21 chances in the Premier League in 2024-25, more than any other player. Only Bukayo Saka (nine) and Cole Palmer (seven) have created more big chances than the 24-year-old's six, t🅠oo.
His form has picked up since moving from the left flank into a role behi🐷nd striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin♋, and McNeil is enjoying the positional switch.
McNeil told evertonfc.com: "Every t♚ime I've played centrally I've enjoyed it, because I feel liꦗke I'm always involved in the game.
"I've really enjoyed it. I know there is still a lot of work to be done ꧃– in and out of possession – for me to improve in that position, but I'm doing that in every game. For me, I've always found the best way I learn and improve is by actually playing and experiencing it for real.
"The stats, I don't really focus on them. For me, I think stats🥀, at times, can overshadow what players actually do on the pitch. I find st🃏ats difficult because rule number one for me is to always just play well, and I know myself if I've done that or not. If I'm playing well and enjoying my football, all of that stuff comes with it.
"My focus 💜will always be on playing well, helping the team in any way I can and enjoying it, and, of course, getting on a winning run. That's the biggest thing f🔯or me – helping the team win games.";
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Everton - Ashley Young
Young has assisted a goal in each of his la✅st two Premier League appearances, which ♛is as many assists as he got in his previous 117 games combined.
At the age of 39, Youn🅘g is the oldest player in Premier League history to assist a goal in co🍒nsecutive games.
Newcastle United - Anthony Gordon
Former Everton winger Gordon has been involved in 13 go꧑als in 23 Premier League appearances in 2024 for ꧟Newcastle (seven goals, six assists).
However, Gordon is yet to score or assist against his old club and has only scored one goal in his last 15 games at Goodison Park, which came against Crystal Palace 🐻in October 2022.
MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN
Everton 𝓰have lost just three of their last 20 Premier League home games against Newcastle (W12 D5), though two of those defeats have come across their last four such meetings (W2), including a 4-1 victory at Goodison Park in April 2023.
Newcastle have won five of their last eight Premier League meetings with Everton (D1 L2), as many as iඣn their previous 24 against them (D6 L13). However, they failed to win either meeting with the Toffees last term (D1 L1).
Only Aston Villa and Manchester City (seven) have picked up more points from losing positions in the Premier L💎eague this season than Newcastle🌠 (five) – the Magpies have only lost two of their last seven games when conceding first (W2 D3), having lost 11 of their previous 13 games when going 1-0 down.
After losing their first four Premier League matches this season, Everton have picked up four points in their last two games✃ (W1 D1). Dyche's side are looking for 👍consecutive wins for the first time since April.
Newcastle have won 11 points in their six Premier League games this season (W3 D2 L1), their most at this stage of a top-flight season since 2011-12 (1💧2) and Eddie Howe’s best start to a league season since 2010-11 in League One with Bournemouth (11 points).
Everton have won six of their last eight Premier League matches at Goodison Park (L2🌃). Since the first game in this run on April 6, the Toffees have won more home points th🀅an any other Premier League side (18).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Everton - 30.9%
Newcastle - 43.9%
Draw - 25.2%
