4/27/23 Slate (Patreon)

The POTD comes through and City are a wagon. Sorry to the Arsenal homies - also Red Star Belgrade game had me sleeping.....

First I did an SL article for the Everton v Newcastle game so posting that! 

A ton of cup games and other nonsense. I really want to see lineups before doing anything else so I'm going to wait for that! 

NEWCASTLE UNITED at EVERTON | 4/27 | 2:45 p.m. ET

Picks:

• Newcastle -135 (1 unit)
• Over 2.5 goals +105 (1 unit)
• Newcastle Over 1.5 goals -105 (1 unit)

This is a bizarre game as Everton, who currently are 18th on the table, host third-place Newcastle. Everton will be seeping with desperation as they need to earn points at all costs in order to avoid the embarrassment of a relegation. Newcastle also will be desperate to win, however, as they are looking to finish in a top-four European-qualifying spot. Both teams need a victory for very different reasons, and I expect a clash under the lights at Goodison Park.

Everton Form and Expectations

Everton currently are facing relegation. They sit with just 28 points after 32 games and have only a single win in their last nine matches. Under current manager Sean Dyche, they are facing their first relegation since the 1950-51 campaign.

With only six games remaining this season, Everton officially are in crisis mode and need to do anything and everything to get as many points as possible. With Newcastle, Manchester City and Brighton still on the schedule, this is a tough run for the Blues.

Their focus should be on posting wins against much weaker Leicester, Wolves and Bournemouth sides. Since Newcastle just lit up Tottenham for six goals last weekend, I see Everton playing for a draw here, if possible, but with their leaky defense and inability to score on a consistent basis, this could be an issue.

Newcastle Form

Newcastle has been the opposite of Everton this season. Sitting third on the table with 59 points, they are aiming for a spot in the Champions League next season. After their absolute thrashing of Tottenham, Newcastle now sit six points ahead of the fifth-place team on the table. They aren't involved in the title race and only have domestic play left, so finishing in the top four is the only thing that matters for the Magpies.

Right now, this team is deadly at both ends of the pitch. They have the fewest number of goals conceded in the entire league as they've allowed 25 in 31 fixtures. Meanwhile, they are fifth in scoring with 54 goals. This team is loaded with Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak all in incredible scoring form, so I expect Newcastle to grab all three points by overwhelming Everton on the attacking third.