Everton need to build on Europe League run against Newcastle

Sam Barnard | 15.03.2015

Everton are looking highly unlikely to finish in the top 10 of the Premier League after their dreadful top-flight run of just one win from their last 12 games.

Yet, despite this, they could still be playing Champions League football next term, as they are edging closer to the quarters of the Europa League, after beating Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in the first leg. They will qualify for the elite European competition by going all the way.

But, the Toffees could also potentially face the prospect of playing in the Championship next term, if they continue their awful domestic run. However, they can take heart in their record of losing just one of their last six (winning four) against Newcastle United.

Everton are odds-on 4/5 chances with Coral for victory at Goodison Park, or 13/5 to get a draw.

The Magpies are not in great form themselves, having won just two of their previous nine in the league, but beat the Toffees in the reverse fixture this season. They are tempting 10/3 chances for another victory.

These teams’ last meeting produced a thrilling 3-2 scoreline in the Toon’s favour, with Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback getting the goals for Newcastle that day. As Cisse is banned for seven games, you can back the latter duo at 10/3 and 8/1 respectively to net again anytime.

Arouna Kone and Kevin Mirallas were on target for the Toffees, meanwhile, and are 6/4 and 7/4 respectively in the same market. But in-form pair Romelu Lukaku (even-money) and Steven Naismith (7/4) are the ones to watch, having both netted against Kiev.

Roberto Martinez’s plans for victory may be hindered by the fact the likes of John Stones, Leighton Baines and Leon Osman are injured doubts, while Aiden McGeady, Steven Pienaar, Tony Hibbert and Bryan Oviedo are definitely out and Gareth Barry is banned.

John Carver has his own absentees in Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote, Massadio Haidara, Siem de Jong and Paul Dummett, meanwhile, but Rob Elliott and Remy Cabella could return, along with Colback.