Preview: Everton vs. Newcastle United

Everton welcome Newcastle United to Goodison Park on Monday as they look to continue their solid start to the season.

The Toffees – notoriously slow starters – have gained six points from a possible nine in their opening three games to elevate them to ninth spot in the table. They also beat Newcastle the last time the two sides met in a 3-1 win at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have won one, drawn one and lost one of their opening three games this season, and will be keen to get among the leaders in the table once more. The Magpies need just one more goal to reach 1000 in the Premier League – and they will look to goal-shy strikers Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba to provide the ammunition.

Everton will be without Darron Gibson for up to five weeks with a thigh strain, while Bryan Oviedo is still not eligible to play in the Premier League. Aside from that, David Moyes has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Newcastle will be without Dutch stopper Tim Krul, who is suffering from an elbow injury, while Fabio Coloccini and Danny Simpson will also sit the match out through injury. Midfielder Cheick Tiote is also a doubt with a calf strain, while Ryan Taylor is still sidelined with a knock that he picked up in pre-season.

Form this season:

Everton: WWWL
Newcastle: WDLWD

Possible lineups:

Everton: Howard; Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Gueye, Osman, Naismith, Fellaini, Pienaar; Jelavic

Newcastle: Harper; Anita, S Taylor, Williamson, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabate, Tiote, Jonas; Cisse, Ba

Sports Mole says: 2-1

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