Looking to bounce back from defeat to Manchester United on Monday, it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides, with Iliman Ndiaye seeing his well-struck effort from 30 yards fly narrowly wide of the goal with nine minutes on the clock.
The Toffees were rewarded for their positive start before the 20-minute mark too when James Garner’s delivery was glanced into the far corner of the net by Jarrad Branthwaite for his first goal since April 2024.
Pre-round, only Burnley had conceded more first-half goals in the PL this season than Newcastle, so Eddie Howe’s men were left suffering a familiar sinking feeling.
However, just after the half-hour mark, Branthwaite’s fortunes changed as Jacob Ramsey’s effort from just outside the area took a slight deflection off the defender which sent it looping over the helpless Jordan Pickford to draw the Magpies level.
Parity would last less than two minutes though, as Dwight McNeil’s effort from 30 yards was uncharacteristically fumbled by Nick Pope, and Beto was on hand to force the ball home from a matter of yards to restore Everton’s advantage.
Newcastle eased into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in midweek; however their domestic form has been poor of late with Howe’s men having lost four of their prior five PL matches.
And with 25 minutes remaining, they very nearly found themselves two goals behind when Beto kept the ball in on the left touchline before advancing one-on-one with Pope; however his effort grazed the crossbar on its way over.
The game appeared to be meandering towards its conclusion, but a remarkable final 10 minutes saw the contest swing twice in as many minutes.
The Magpies looked to have rescued a point when Jacob Murphy’s first-time volley from inside the area took a slight, but telling, deflection off Idrissa Gueye to give Pickford no chance of making a save.
However, less than 60 seconds later, the Toffees broke upfield and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall squared the ball to Thierno Barry; he was fouled by Lewis Hall, but that didn’t stop the ball diverting off the forward and into the net from a matter of yards to send the travelling supporters into delirium.
David Moyes’ men held on to the points thanks to a last-gasp Pickford wonder save to tip Sandro Tonali's volley against the bar, so they have now lost just one of their last 10 PL away matches, with the result extending their unbeaten run at St James’ Park to three visits.
This dramatic victory sees Everton climb one place to eighth and ensures they remain within touching distance of the European places.
A dejected Newcastle remain 12th having missed the chance to leapfrog the Toffees, with Howe’s men now having lost four successive domestic home games.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
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