Football News: Premier League Match Preview Monday 23rd April 2018

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Monday 23rd April 2018

Everton v Newcastle United 8pm kick off

Calvert-Lewin (hip injury) slight doubt
Holgate (ankle injury expected return 13th May) out
Sigurdsson (knee injury expected return 13th May) out
Mangala (knee injury) out
McCarthy (broken leg) out
Stekelenburg (groin injury) doubt

What can you say about Everton this season? Maybe I should leave it to Sam Allardyce, who says he has done an 11 out of 10 job in his role as Everton manager, that the draw with struggling Swansea was a good result and that no one could do better than he has. As that is the case, whatever happens will obviously be as good as it possibly could be and no one could ever do any better. The fact they have not won in three games is obviously not Allardyce's fault, it is probably Ademola Lookman's fault for choosing to go to Germany or possibly David Henen for never having spoken to Sam.
Most important player: Sam Allardyce. It is all about Sam, he keeps telling us that, so it must be true.

Atsu (knee injury expected return 28th April) major doubt
Gamez (ankle injury) slight doubt

Four wins on the trot has put the Toon right on the heels of the Toffees, with Rafa working a minor miracle to do so, though obviously not quite as good as Allardyce would have done. Will the friction between the directors and Rafael Benitez, which has once again come into focus, take away from the performances at the end of the season? Or will it inspire some players to prove they do not need replacing in the summer over the final few games?
Most important player: Florian Lejeune. The French defender has been a key part of the success so far.

Defining Battle: the key to stopping Newcastle is to either close down Shelvey and not allow him time and space to pick out the long passes and, when he does get that time and space, the defence has to drop off and deny him space to play it into. It is basic but it is also very true against Newcastle.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 2-2
Ed003 - 1-1
Ed004 - 1-1
Ed007 - 2-1
Ed018 - 1-2
Ed025 -
Ed033 - 1-0

Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed002 - 225 points
2. Ed018 - 220 points
3. Ed033 - 217 points
4. Ed007 - 214 points
5. Ed025 - 213 points
6. Ed004 - 210 points
7. Ed003 - 198 points

*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 20th April 2018 (not including results for that day)

Written by Tris Burke April 23 2018 08:43:42