Newcastle United

Here are the key facts and figures before Tuesday's Premier League fixture between Newcastle and Everton.

• Newcastle United have conceded three or more goals in 10 different Premier League games so far in 2023-24, having done so just twice in the whole of last season. They last did so in more different games in a campaign in 2013-14 (11).

• Everton have won just one of their past eight midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) Premier League games (D2 L5), though that was a 3-0 victory over Newcastle in the reverse fixture this season.

• Alexander Isak has scored in each of his past four Premier League home games for Newcastle. The last player to score in five in a row at St James’ Park for the Magpies was Yoan Gouffran between November and December 2013.

• Everton are winless in their past 12 Premier League games, drawing five and losing seven. The Toffees last had a longer run without a league victory between October and November 1957 (13).

• All four of Harvey Barnes’ Premier League goals for Newcastle this season have been as a substitute, including his match-winning brace against West Ham last time out. The only Newcastle player to score more from the bench in a campaign in the competition is Papiss Cissé in 2014-15 (5).

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Everton.

Here are the key lines from the Newcastle boss:

• Kieran Trippier could return to face Everton, with Howe confirming "there is no problem with him and he is working his way back to fitness".

• He said Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth and Miguel Almiron limping off the pitch on Saturday "is a huge concern".

• On Anthony Gordon's suspension: "It’s a big blow. Naturally, from his perspective he will be absolutely devastated at missing the Everton game. For us we are going to miss a player that has been outstanding and consistent."

• He said the winger's ban might however "be a blessing in disguise long-term" because it "gives him a little rest" ahead of the run-in.

• On opponents Everton: "It will be a really difficult game. Whenever you play one of Sean Dyche’s teams it is always a very tough game."

• He said the Magpies "will have a chance to win" if they can "hit the heights" they did against West Ham.

• On the chance to register their first back-to-back wins of the season: "Having two home games is really important, but we won’t underestimate the challenge that is in front of us."

Chris Bertram
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle are closer in terms of points to the Premier League relegation zone than they are to the top of the table.

It is a far cry from the opening day of the campaign, when Eddie Howe was happy to "let the fans dare to dream" after a handsome victory against Aston Villa hinted at a season even more successful than the last.

But there will be no trophy and there is unlikely to be Champions League qualification.

It will therefore be hard not to view this season - even accounting for a string of injuries - as decline rather than progress come May.

It is not a time to panic, but Newcastle must now make some clever decisions between now and August - and much of them are linked to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

If this was happening five years ago, Howe would now be under severe pressure and the game's biggest managerial names would be circling in the knowledge a huge salary and superstar-packed squad awaited them at St James'.

But Newcastle have to play within the financial rules and, even if they wanted to, replacing Howe would be a blow to balancing the sustainability books. He is likely to be given more time, which his first 18 months at the club warrant.

He will not, however, be able to buy his way to success, as he would have done prior to the introduction of financial guidelines. In fact, he may even have to sell a marquee name.

Astute recruitment will be required in order to comply with the rules; Newcastle will be signing semi-proven players rather than finished products - but so too will a Michael Edwards-led Liverpool and an INEOS-shaped Manchester United, among others.

Getting those recruitment choices correct will be the job of the owners' own key decision - a new director of football.

Questions may be asked of Dan Ashworth over the club's background work regarding Sandro Tonali but Newcastle have generally operated sensibly in the past two years.

His replacement is going to be vital to the short term, but the likes of Paul Mitchell and Rui Pedro Braz - both of whom have been linked with the role - come with impressive track records.

Newcastle have the spine of an elite team, with few better in their positions in the league than Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman. There are few doubts over Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento's quality too.

A world-class defensive midfielder alongside Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali and it would compete with any team in England.

Add a high-class centre-back and a forward, as well as perhaps a goalkeeper, and Howe will feel he has a team to right the wrongs of this season.

The route back to the highs of 2022-23 is there - but only if the club gets key decisions on and off the pitch correct.

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle and West Ham.

Here are some of your responses:

Newcastle fans

Sam: What a game! Harvey Barnes has come on from the bench and has proved exactly why he should be playing. Tremendous footballer. This was a game of many highs and lows and lots of changes to the team. The subs of Barnes, Anderson and especially Hall were terrific. Let's hope we can now push on and try to win as many of our last nine games as we can.

Godwyne: When Newcastle, in 2011, produced a stunning comeback from 4-0 down to earn a draw against Arsenal, I thought that was right up there. But today, to comeback from being 3-1 down against West Ham, and with multiple injuries, that’s been one of the best performances by NUFC.

Andrew: Phenomenal barely covers it! After the Livramento injury, at 3-1 down, it was like watching the Newcastle of last season! The intensity and passion we saw, was driven by the 12th man (the crowd). Let’s see this in the remaining matches, and maybe we can finish on an incredible high!

West Ham fans

Don: We capitulated. The subs on the 66th minute cost us the game. This is why so many of us are wanting a change at the top. Instead of killing off a weakened Newcastle, we invited them to shoot at will. And they did. VAR did us no favours either.

Stanley: Once again we suffered poor refereeing as the penalty gave Newcastle the momentum. We also had Moyes putting on Phillips, who is yet to prove himself. Captain Zouma was one of our worst players again. Good attacking performance, terrible defending and terrible refereeing.

Jonathan: It was the best match I've seen all season and we really should've won it. Some people are blaming the gaffer but I can't see how he can be held responsible for two penalties being conceded and the refereeing performance. We move on now against Tottenham on Tuesday, everyone needs to get behind the team and get us winning that one.

Former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock says Newcastle's back line is no longer "watertight" and that is why they are conceding "far too many" goals.

The Magpies earned a thrilling 4-3 win over West Ham on Saturday but are considerably down on several defensive metrics from last season.

"The drop-off is huge," Warnock told BBC Match of the Day. "This is Newcastle's problem.

"They score a lot of goals but they concede far too many. That defence is not watertight anymore and it is not difficult to play against.

"It will be disappointing to Eddie Howe."

Newcastle's defensive woes have worsened with captain Jamaal Lascelles ruled out for six to nine months after rupturing his the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Saturday's win over West Ham.

Fellow centre-back Sven Botman suffered a similar injury against Manchester City earlier this month and has also been ruled out for up to nine months.

Watch more analysis on Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Sebastien Bassong speaking on BBC World Service’s Sportsworld about Newcastle United's comeback win against West Ham: "What a place to be. I think we all know how special St. James’ Park can be. When you hear the crowd you know you’ve got a chance to get something out of the game, but when you get the crowd going and Newcastle have got good players, even though they’ve been hit by injuries, they are in this game.

“It’s a very good result for them coming off a more difficult period. I think they needed that kind of win, this way to win to just be reignited with their fans, so it’s a really good day.”

Alex Scott introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Wolves

Newcastle will speed up their search for a centre-back this summer and will offer 32-year-old English defender Paul Dummett a new contract after captain Jamaal Lascelles was ruled out for up to nine months with a knee injury. (Newcastle Chronicle), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

After the highs of finishing fourth in the Premier League and reaching the Carabao Cup final in 2022-23, Newcastle have struggled to maintain those levels this campaign.

Exiting the FA Cup following a 2-0 loss at Manchester City in the quarter-finals saw them sign off for the international break in disappointing circumstances.

But they still have the chance to end the season positively with a European berth in their sights and there is clearly still plenty of fight left in the players.

Trailing 3-1 with 77 minutes played against West Ham, Newcastle appeared to be heading for a third successive loss across all competitions.

However, Alexander Isak pulled them back into the encounter with his second goal from the penalty spot, having opened the scoring inside three minutes, before substitute Harvey Barnes struck twice in the final 10 minutes to deliver a thrilling win.

Injuries remain a major issue for Eddie Howe with Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth and Miguel Almiron all limping off, while Anthony Gordon's stoppage-time red card means he will miss Tuesday's game against Everton.

With nine games left to play, Newcastle need to dig deep to stay the course in their pursuit of European football but, on the basis of this performance, there is more than enough in the tank to get them over the line.

Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Newcastle's victory over West Ham: "It tells us we have some unbelievable professionals in there and we still have a spirit that we will never give up. It is a game we will never forget, it was a pleasure to be a part of it and I can't praise the players enough."

On injuries: "It's been the story of our season. Unfortunately we were getting hit left right and centre today. We were 1-0 up and then Jamaal [Lascelles] goes off. Miggy [Almiron] goes off, Anthony [Gordon] is sent off, Tino [Livramento] goes off. It is a catalogue one after another but the players we brought on made a positive impact and that's the beauty of our squad."

On Harvey Barnes: "He is an incredible player. We have missed him this season and he would have given us quality wherever he played. He is a goalscorer and they are so valuable and his two finishes today were of the highest quality. Of course, the last one was memorable and will always be remembered and what a finish it was. That's the quality he has."

• Newcastle have scored 13 Premier League goals via substitutes this season, more than any other side. Harvey Barnes’ two from the bench today means he’s scored six Premier League goals against West Ham – against no side does he have more.

• West Ham lost a Premier League match in which they led by 2+ goals for the first time since September 2016, and a 4-2 home defeat to Watford.

• Newcastle have conceded 3+ goals in 10 different Premier League games this season, with only Burnley (11) and Luton Town (11) doing so more often (Sheffield United on 10 before their game against Fulham).

• Only Paolo Di Canio (16 in 1999-00) has scored more goals in a Premier League campaign for West Ham than Jarrod Bowen’s 15 this term. Meanwhile, Bowen’s eight away goals is the most by a Hammers player in a top-flight season since Mike Small in 1991-92 (9).

• Newcastle’s Alexander Isak became just the second player to score a penalty goal against two different goalkeepers in a Premier League match, after Steven Gerrard against Aston Villa in March 2009 (Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan).

• Mohammed Kudus’ strike at 54:02 was the second latest first-half goal scored on record in a Premier League match (since 2006-07) after Trincão for Wolves against Leeds in March 2022 (55:11). It was Kudus’ first league goal for West Ham scored outside of London, with his previous six coming at the London Stadium (5) and Gtech Community Stadium (1).

Substitute Harvey Barnes scored two late goals as Newcastle edged a seven-goal thriller against West Ham at St James' Park.

Newcastle made the perfect start when Anthony Gordon won a penalty with just three minutes played and Alexander Isak converted from 12 yards after a lengthy check by the video assistant referee (VAR).

But the game started to get away from the Magpies when West Ham scored three unanswered goals.

Michail Antonio brought the Hammers on to level terms before Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen scored within minutes either side of half-time.

Isak scored his second penalty of the afternoon after Gordon was again adjudged to have been fouled and Barnes grabbed the equaliser in the 83rd minute.

With momentum and a vociferous St James' Park firmly behind them, Newcastle pressed on and Barnes emphatically fired in a 90th-minute winner.

There was further drama to come in injury time as Newcastle were reduced to 10 men when Gordon received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, but they managed to hold out for a victory that could prove vital in their pursuit of European football.

Newcastle climb up to eighth, just a point behind West Ham in seventh.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Newcastle fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, West Ham fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Eight fixtures make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

• Aston Villa v Wolves

All times GMT

Listen to national and local radio commentaries and follow live text updates here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on Gladiators star Bionic.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Newcastle's hopes of a trophy ended when they were knocked out of the FA Cup before the international break so it feels like a big end to the season for their manager Eddie Howe, starting now.

The same applies to West Ham boss David Moyes too, because there has been plenty of speculation about his future too, as well as criticism from fans.

But the Hammers are still in Europe, with a Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen to look forward to, while Newcastle's campaign has unravelled a bit in the past few weeks.

League position is all Newcastle have to play for now and I don't think Howe can afford to let this campaign peter out. They are four points behind seventh-place West Ham with a game in hand, so a win here would be massive for them.

And, while Howe's side have not been as strong defensively this season, I still always feel they have a goal in them. That's why I reckon they will edge this.

Bionic's prediction: 1-2

Newcastle have been very up and down all season. Their schedule affected them at the start and they have had a number of injuries as well. West Ham have been more consistent and I think they will take the win here.

See the full list of predictions here

Image source, PA Media

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has a "huge feeling of pride" when his players - such as recent England debutant Anthony Gordon - represent their countries.

The former Everton forward, 23, started England's 1-0 defeat by Brazil on Saturday then came off the bench in the 2-2 draw against Belgium on Tuesday.

"It's a really satisfying feeling to look at Anthony and all the players that are travelling all over the world representing their countries, there's a huge feeling of pride," said the Magpies boss.

"I've seen how hard Anthony's had to work for that moment.

"It hasn't been easy for him, he's had to work at every aspect of his game and he's had some difficult moments, but this season he's really flourished and produced some really consistent performances.

"To see him get that moment, I knew how much it would mean to him.

"Of course then there are mixed feelings when you're watching the game because you're thinking 'please don't pull up, just finish the game well'.

"I thought he played really well and it was great to see him and Bruno [Guimaraes] going against each other."

Image source, PA Media

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says Sven Botman was advised to have surgery on a knee injury earlier this season, but the defender wanted to try to play on.

The Dutch centre-back was out for almost three months with a knee problem before returning to action in December.

However, Botman is expected to miss the next six to nine months following surgery to repair a damaged anterior cruciate ligament.

"There is quite a complex story around Sven since he got his knee injury," Howe said. "Initially he had a partial tear of his ACL. We sought specialist opinion and there were conflicting reports on what he should do next.

"Ultimately, our medical team advised him to get surgery and he, himself, wanted to carry on playing. We'll always try to guide and help the players, but ultimately it's their bodies and they have to make the final decision.

"Unfortunately, he succumbed to the injury eventually, but I've seen several players with that injury come back, carry on playing and stay fit."

Howe continued: "Of course the medical team advised Sven and all they can do in that situation is make a recommendation. Ultimately, the player felt his knee was good. Sven felt his knee was strong and he felt confident in it. He did a lot of work to get back, he sought specialist opinion and they helped him.

"As always in these situations, we don't have the benefit of hindsight - I wish we did."

Asked later in Friday's media conference about whether he would be more reluctant to allow a similar situation to happen again in future, Howe said: "You can't force a player to have an operation, no matter what an opinion may be internally.

"The player has to allow his body to be operated on and Sven was very certain in his mind what he wanted to do. Once you have that position, unless you communicate with the player and make him change his mind - which Sven was adamant his knee felt good and he wanted to carry on - I think we have to support him then and move forward with the process."

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League match against West Ham United.

Here are the main headlines:

• Reacting to Thursday's news that midfielder Sandro Tonali has been charged by the Football Association for alleged breaches of betting rules, Howe said: "Sandro, from day one, has co-operated and was very honest with the club and the authorities with what he had done and the issues he had, so yesterday was no surprise. It may have been surprising externally for other people to hear this news, but we've been supporting him through this process."

• Howe hopes Tonali's ongoing suspension, which ends in August, will not be extended: "I hope for Sandro that there are no further consequences. He has suffered during this period, he's sought help, been very honest and admitted he has an issue. The best thing for Sandro would be to resume his career having taken his punishment and learned a lot of lessons."

• Howe said defender Sven Botman had a successful operation on his long-term knee injury: "It's a big blow, there's quite a complex story around Sven this season since he got his knee injury. Initially he had a partial tear of his ACL, we sought specialist opinion and there were conflicting reports on what he should do next. Ultimately our medical team advised him to get surgery, he himself wanted to carry on playing. We'll always try to guide and help the players, but ultimately it's their bodies and they have to make the final decision. Unfortunately he succumbed to the injury eventually. He now has a long period of rehab ahead of him and we wish him well."

• Howe said he felt "pride" seeing his players represent their countries in the international break, including Anthony Gordon, who made his England debut: "I've seen how hard Anthony's had to work for that moment. It hasn't been easy for him, he's had to work at every aspect of his game and he's had some difficult moments, but this season he's really flourished and produced some really consistent performances."

• Asked for a word to sum up Newcastle's season so far, Howe replied: "Challenging, for sure. The international break is a chance to recharge but it's certainly not been that for me! It's following suit from the rest of the season, there have been things thrown up that have been there to test us all of the time."

• However, with 10 Premier League games remaining and qualification for Europe still a possibility, Howe hopes his team can end the campaign strongly: "If we can come through this season with a positive finish, I think we'll look back on a season that's really helped us grow and I think we'll be better for it in every sense. But of course, we have to have that positive ending and that's what we're desperate for."

Follow the rest of Friday's Premier League news conferences