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AARON RAMSDALE VS NICK POPE: THE GOALKEEPER WHO SOLVES NEWCASTLE'S PRESSING PROBLEM

Aaron Ramsdale showcased elite distribution, dissecting Everton's press with a crucial pass, leading to a goal chance. Eddie Howe praises the new dynamic Ramsdale brings over Nick Pope.

Aaron Ramsdale vs Nick Pope: The Goalkeeper Who Solves Newcastle's Pressing Problem
Howe Praises Ramsdale's Footwork in Everton Victory

Newcastle United's victory was clear long before the 79th minute at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Newcastle fans in the corner were ecstatic. They were enjoying their hard-won Premier League away victory.

The Newcastle team was having fun on the field. Everton showed some fight, with Thierno Barry having a goal disallowed prior to Kieran Dewsbury-Hall scoring a consolation goal. Then, United took charge again and kept the ball for almost a minute, spreading play across the field before returning it to goalie Aaron Ramsdale.

The travelling fans were so pleased they could have started chanting 'ole' as Newcastle toyed with Everton. Many home fans had already left.

Ramsdale stood casually, his foot on the ball inside his penalty area. Everton pushed forward to press, with three midfielders pressuring Lewis Miley and Bruno Guimaraes. Barry moved towards Ramsdale, blocking the pass to Malick Thiaw.

The United goalie could have kicked the ball long towards Nick Woltemade, who is physically big, or passed left to Dan Burn, the safer option.

Instead, he rolled the ball forward and sent a perfect pass through Everton's midfield to Joe Willock, who was unmarked. That single, precise pass broke through the press and launched a United attack.

The attack almost resulted in a fifth goal. Willock exchanged passes with Woltemade and then moved towards the defence before passing to Jacob Ramsey on his left, whose shot was saved by Jordan Pickford. If the shot had scored, it would have been one of the best goals of the weekend.

Ramsdale showed what he brings to Newcastle in that moment. He may not be as good at stopping shots as Nick Pope, but his passing is better. Pope has many good traits, but beating the press with a through ball isn't one of them.

Nick and Aaron are goalies with different strengths, Eddie Howe said.

They are still good. Today, Aaron showed his good footwork and distributed the ball well.

Newcastle were often challenged by teams that press high, as they knew Pope didn't have the traits to help them build from the back like Ederson, Alisson, Pickford, or Raya. Ramsdale offers a different aspect to United's play.

Now, it seems like the No. 1 shirt is Ramsdale’s to keep. Howe did not say if Pope would have been dropped if he hadn't hurt his groin in training. Either way, Ramsdale took his chance.

He gets to play longer, playing against Spurs on Tuesday night. He also played against them earlier in the season in the Carabao Cup.

MALICK THIAW'S RECORD GOAL ENDS NEWCASTLE'S NINE-GAME AWAY CURSE

Newcastle ends a 9-game away drought with a dominant 4-1 win at Everton. Thiaw scores quickest PL goal, Miley shines in record victory.

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Thiaw, Miley Break Records in Crushing Everton Win

Newcastle fans, rejoice. The team finally snagged their first away win of the 2025-26 Premier League season, crushing Everton 4-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium this past Saturday.

Before this game, things weren't pretty. Eddie Howe’s squad had not only failed to win on the road all season, but they’d also dropped their last three away games. This losing streak stretched back nine away matches—their worst since a 12-game slump between December 2015 and August 2017.

But this time, Newcastle came out firing, scoring in the first minute and dominating the game. By halftime, they were up 3-0.

Everton showed some life after the break. They had a goal called back before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored, but it wasn't enough to change the game.

From the jump, Newcastle was all over Everton. Anthony Elanga tested Jordan Pickford just 20 seconds in. From the corner that followed, Malick Thiaw scored after only 52 seconds—the quickest goal of the season, beating Phil Foden’s early strike against Leeds.

Lewis Miley set up the first goal and then scored one himself in the 25th minute. Everton couldn't clear the ball, Dan Burn blocked Tino Livramento's shot, and the ball landed right for Miley, who fired a left-footed shot that slipped past Pickford. This made Miley (at 19 years, 212 days) the second-youngest Newcastle player to both score and assist in a Premier League match.

Newcastle wasn't finished there. Elanga caused trouble on the right and passed to Nick Woltemade, who chipped the ball over Pickford. It was the first time since December 2018 (vs. Tottenham) that Everton had allowed three goals in the first half of a home game. David Moyes needed to shake things up.

He subbed in Charly Alcaraz at halftime, and Alcaraz almost scored when his shot hit the crossbar in the 53rd minute. Not long before, Iliman Ndiaye forced Aaron Ramsdale—who was starting his first league game for Newcastle with Nick Pope injured—to make a save.

But Newcastle struck again just before the hour mark. Lewis Hall sent in a great cross, and Thiaw headed it in for his second goal. He became the first Newcastle player to score two headers in a Premier League game since Georginio Wijnaldum against Norwich in October 2015.

Dewsbury-Hall scored for the second straight game, giving Everton a goal. He controlled a long pass and scored, but it was too late, as Newcastle cruised to their first away win of the season.

Everton vs. Newcastle: Key Stats

Malick Thiaw is the first player to score his first-ever Premier League goal in the opening minute of a match since Kenedy for Chelsea against Norwich in March 2016.

Thiaw's goal was the earliest home goal Everton has given up in the Premier League (52 seconds) since Diego Costa scored after 35 seconds for Chelsea in August 2014.

Thiaw's early goal was only the sixth scored from a corner in the opening minute of a Premier League match and the earliest since Leonardo Ulloa for Leicester against Newcastle in May 2015 (38 seconds).

Everton gave up 4+ goals in a Premier League home game for the first time since April 2023 (1-4 vs. Newcastle) and for the first time under David Moyes at home since November 2010 (1-4 vs. West Bromwich Albion).

This was Newcastle's biggest away win against a team that wasn't promoted since another 4-1 victory against Everton in April 2023.

AARON RAMSDALE STARTS: NICK POPE OUT INJURED AFTER MARSEILLE GOALKEEPING ERROR

Newcastle's Nick Pope is out injured for the Everton game, replaced by Aaron Ramsdale. This comes after Pope's costly midweek error in the Champions League against Marseille.

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Pope Sidelined; Ramsdale Seizes Everton Opportunity

After a shaky performance lately, including a blunder against Marseille, Nick Pope is out of the Newcastle squad due to injury for their match against Everton.

The club's X account stated that Aaron Ramsdale, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Joelinton, Anthony Elanga, and Nick Woltemade are all starting today. Nick Pope is out because of an injury.

Pope picked up a groin injury in training the day before the game.

Earlier this week, Eddie Howe spent a lot of time during his press conference discussing Pope's situation.

Recent mistakes have cost Newcastle, more so when playing away. This led to calls for Aaron Ramsdale to take his place, which only got louder after Pope's error in Marseille on Tuesday.

During the Champions League game in the week, Newcastle was up 1-0 when Pope came out of his box, allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score the tying goal.

That play shook the team, and Aubameyang then scored the winning goal minutes later.

As Craig Hope of the Daily Mail reported this week, Howe didn't give a clear answer about who would start but admitted he was seriously thinking about who to play on Merseyside.

Howe said he was considering all options and would pick based on merit. He also mentioned that he sees the players training every day, including the goalkeepers.

He added that Pope's shot-stopping has been great, making so many saves that it's almost expected. He noted that being a goalkeeper is tough and that Pope has been strong except for a couple of noticeable moments.

Howe said that he doesn't usually think about switching goalkeepers because it's a position that needs consistency. He wants the defenders to have consistency and understanding in front of the keeper. Changing the goalkeeper is possible but a big decision, and he doesn't want to rotate that position.

He continued, saying that Nick is very experienced, level-headed, and doesn't get too high or low, even when he plays well.

He stays calm and takes everything in. Howe supports him, noting that Pope has made many great saves this season.

But the choice has been made for Howe for the Everton game, as Pope's injury decides it.

Ramsdale is now in and will want to take this chance to make it hard for Howe to put Pope back in the starting lineup when he recovers.

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