Everton faced a challenging match against Newcastle at Hill Dickinson Stadium, suffering a 4-1 defeat. Malick Thiaw scored within the first minute, setting the tone for Newcastle's dominance. Lewis Miley extended their lead in the 25th minute. Before halftime, Nick Woltemade added another goal, and Thiaw secured his second shortly after the break. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall managed a late consolation for Everton.
David Moyes expressed his disappointment with Everton's performance, acknowledging that they were outmatched by Newcastle. "We weren't competitive," he told Sky Sports. Despite having possession, Everton struggled defensively and failed to capitalise on opportunities. Moyes highlighted their inability to defend set pieces and prevent easy
goals as critical issues.
The defeat marked a significant moment for Everton, as it was the first time they conceded four or more goals in a Premier League home game since April 2023. Coincidentally, that match also ended in a 4-1 loss to Newcastle. Additionally, it was the first time under Moyes that Everton allowed four or more goals at home since November 2010 against West Bromwich Albion.
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Moyes admitted that while Everton managed to regain possession frequently, they struggled with Newcastle's pace and intensity. He noted that conceding the second and third goals was particularly disappointing. "We had a good amount of the ball and did pretty well with it," he said. However, Newcastle's quick counter-attacks exposed Everton's defensive vulnerabilities.
The Scotsman acknowledged that Everton is not yet on par with Newcastle in terms of performance levels. He suggested that for Everton to secure a positive result, they would need an exceptional performance while hoping for an off day from their opponents.
Moyes' candid assessment reflects the challenges Everton faces in competing at higher levels consistently. The team needs to address defensive lapses and improve their ability to convert possession into meaningful attacks to compete effectively against top-tier teams like Newcastle.
