ANALYSIS: JORDAN PICKFORD RILED AS NEWCASTLE'S INTENT DELIVERS 4-1
Magpies dismantle Everton 4-1, led by Thiaw's goals, silencing Pickford and ending their nine-game away winless streak. Dominant performance.
Newcastle United really shook up Jordan Pickford at Goodison Park, finally grabbing a win away from home.
Pickford came onto the field with his usual confidence, likely looking to provoke the Newcastle fans. Back in May, he was all smiles when he helped Everton win at St. James' Park, but this time was different.
As the game neared its end, many fans had already left, as Newcastle controlled the match. Pickford walked off looking disappointed and couldn't even look at the Newcastle supporters as he walked past the home section.
From the start, Newcastle showed strong attacking intent and kept it up throughout the game. This marks their first Premier League away win since April.
Just 21 seconds into the game, Nick Woltemade played in Anthony Elanga, who ran forward and shot at Pickford. Pickford pushed the ball wide, but from the following corner, Newcastle took the lead.
Lewis Miley's corner from the left was met by Malick Thiaw, who headed it in after 52 seconds. Eight minutes in, Harvey Barnes got through, but Michael Keane blocked his shot.
Everton had a chance two minutes later when James Tarkowski passed to Keane, but Dan Burn blocked the shot over the bar. Around the midpoint of the half, Everton had most of the possession, with 78%.
The home fans were shocked when Newcastle scored a second goal. Everton failed to clear the ball, and it fell to Miley, whose shot bounced into the net with Pickford's mistake after 25 minutes.
Tino Livramento passed the ball back into the box, Burn flicked it to Miley, who scored from a low shot, delighting the away fans. The 3,000 fans from Newcastle then sang, "Cheer up, Jordan Pickford."
Newcastle almost scored again three minutes later when Lewis Hall shot at Pickford, with a deflection sending it over the bar. Newcastle scored a third goal at the end of the first half with great teamwork. Ramsdale passed the ball to Livramento, who played in Elanga.
Elanga's cross found Woltemade in the box, who calmly chipped it over Pickford to make it 3-0! That score held until halftime, with Everton making a change for the second half.
Tim Iroegbunam was replaced by Carlos Alcaraz, but Everton knew they faced a tough challenge. The Toffees had their first shot on target five minutes into the second half when Iliman Ndiaye shot at Ramsdale.
Ramsdale saved a James Garner corner, and Alcaraz's follow-up hit the woodwork, but Newcastle held on. In the 56th minute, Barnes ran down the left, but Pickford blocked his shot.
Moments later, Pickford denied Woltemade, but Barnes and Hall got the ball back in, with Hall sending in a great cross. Thiaw then scored Newcastle's fourth goal three minutes before the hour mark.
Everton thought they had scored when Thierno Barry shot in from a left-wing cross on 65 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for a handball, keeping Newcastle's lead at 4-0.
Everton did score when James Tarkowski floated the ball into the box, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall finished it off. Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey came on late in the game and played well together with 11 minutes left.
Ramsey couldn't score, and Pickford made another save. As the game ended, the few fans left booed as Anthony Gordon, who used to play for Everton, came on for a brief appearance.
Newcastle looked for another goal, but they didn't need one, as the game was already won. Newcastle now has 18 points, just three points outside the top five.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
Must Read
