Everton 1-1 Newcastle: Magpies earn a point at Goodison Park

Richarlison scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season

Everton were left to rue several missed chances as Newcastle United claimed a point at Goodison Park.

Marco Silva's men had 19 shots at goal but it was the visitors who took the lead as Salomon Rondon smashed home after a sweeping counter-attack.

Everton responded well and were rewarded for a period of sustained pressure when Richarlison equalised seven minutes before the interval, lifting the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Cenk Tosun both had gilt-edged chances and the hosts continued to dominate possession after the break, but Christian Atsu had two late opportunities to steal all three points for the visitors.

A point apiece sees Everton move back to sixth while Newcastle remain above Crystal Palace in 14th.

Last-ditch Newcastle secure a point

By Newcastle legend Alan Shearer's estimation, the current Magpies squad are playing to avoid relegation this season, and a valuable point at Goodison Park will go some way in their attempt for survival.

Newcastle were set up to defend and soak up the Everton onslaught before releasing their pacy forwards down the other end, and for 38 minutes the plan was working.

The visitors won possession in midfield before taking the lead within two passes as Jacob Murphy carried the ball deep into the Everton half before delivering a pin-point cross for Rondon to smash into the top corner, from inside the area.

Atsu could have won it at the end, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Jordan Pickford, but it was at the other end that Newcastle were most impressive.

Everton saw 77% of the ball but the Magpies back five stood firm on several occasions to keep the score level.

With Sigurdsson poised to place the ball past Martin Dubravka just yards from the penalty spot, Federico Fernandez dived in to deny the Iceland international with an outstretched boot.

The goalkeeper was also in fine form when he reacted quickest to keep out Tosun's effort from close range, in a defensive performance which epitomised the team display.

Two points lost rather than one point gained

Everton have extended their unbeaten home run to six matches in all competitions, but the Toffees will be disappointed to leave Goodison with only a point as defender Kurt Zouma admitted they "have to get back to winning ways" after the game.

Richarlison added his seventh of the season - to move level with Sigurdsson as the club's top goalscorer - after a well-taken finish at the back post, but only three shots on target from 19 attempts suggests the hosts lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.

Had Sigurdsson and Tosun converted their chances in a dominant first half, the game would have been different, but Newcastle dug in and Everton appeared to run out of ideas.

Marco Silva made three changes to the side that lost in the Merseyside derby on Sunday as Ademola Lookman - who came in for his first start in the Premier League - started in attack.

However, the former Charlton forward only produced one shot in his 78 minutes on the field, which raises concerns about Everton's plan B should Sigurdsson or Richarlison fail to claim the winner.

Man of the match - Fabian Schar (Newcastle)

Schar made the most defensive clearances (12), interceptions (5) and tackles (5) of any other player on the pitch

'We showed a lack of focus' - what they said

Everton manager Marco Silva said: "It was a difficult match like we expected.

"We had a better first half and we created better chances, but we showed a lack of focus in the goal we conceded. We reacted well and had clear chances which could have changed the match.

"We knew what they came here to do which was to wait for our mistake. I think the stats suggest we controlled the match. To break their organisation you have to play faster and we didn't do that in the second half. We take it game by game and our mentality is to win and do what we can."

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said: "I think the work we produced against a very good team was fantastic.

"We suffered after taking the lead but we were better in the second half and both teams had chances to score. The main thing was to defend well and create chances, but we would like to be more accurate in our counter-attacks.

"We have to be realistic, they are a good team and they had chances in the first half, and they have four games unbeaten at home, so we have to credit our players."

Everton see the most possession in a top-flight game since 2003-04 - the stats

• Everton are unbeaten in their last eight midweek matches in the Premier League (W4 D4), since losing 0-3 at Sunderland in May 2016.

• Newcastle haven't won a midweek Premier League match since December 2013 (5-1 v Stoke), drawing nine and losing nine played on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday since.

• Everton posted a 76.3% possession rate, their highest in a Premier League game since 2003-04.

• Newcastle's Salomon Rondon has netted three goals in his last four Premier League appearances, as many as he managed in his previous 18 in the competition.

• Everton forward Richarlison has netted three goals in his last three home Premier League appearances, one more than he scored in his previous 22.

• Richarlison has scored seven goals in 13 appearances in the Premier League this season, two more than he managed in 38 games for Watford (5) last season.

What's next?

Everton return to action on Monday, 10 December when they host Watford at Goodison Park (20:00 GMT), while Newcastle return to St James' Park to face Wolves on Sunday, 9 December (16:00 GMT).