Newcastle: new manager, promising first step

Newcastle have entered the summer with a major change on the touchline. Eddie Howe left his position on July 31, with 38-year-old German coach Matthias Jaissle taking charge. The new manager prefers an energetic, pressing-oriented approach built around vertical attacks and immediate transitions after winning possession.

Jaissle made an encouraging start, guiding Newcastle to a 2-1 victory over Valencia at Mestalla on August 8. Yoane Wissa scored both goals after the interval. The Magpies’ previous friendlies were less convincing, with a 1-1 draw against Gateshead followed by a 4-1 defeat to Bristol City. Newcastle have therefore both scored and conceded in each of their last three warm-up matches.

Anthony Elanga remains a doubt for the Edinburgh fixture. The winger was forced off after a heavy challenge from José Gayà against Valencia, although Jaissle later confirmed that no serious injury had occurred. His availability will depend on how quickly he recovers.

With plenty of time remaining before Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Liverpool, Jaissle is expected to continue experimenting. His first match featured extensive rotation, opportunities for academy players and debuts for new arrivals. The Everton fixture should provide another chance to assess different combinations while gradually implementing his tactical philosophy.

Everton: promising moments overshadowed by defensive concerns

Everton’s preseason has been anything but straightforward under David Moyes. The Toffees started with a commanding 4-0 victory over Dundee, before drawing 0-0 with Bolton and losing 0-1 to Stoke City. They then edged Hamburg 2-1 but suffered a 3-1 defeat against Stuttgart in their most recent outing.

The Hamburg and Stuttgart matches offered a similar pattern, with Everton scoring in both while also allowing their opponents to find the net. Moyes used an experimental starting XI against Stuttgart, giving opportunities to Tyler Dibling, Carlos Alcaraz, Beto, Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong. Thierno Barry was introduced from the bench and converted a penalty.

Everton have also continued reshaping their squad, with Christian Nørgaard joining the group this week. Given the ongoing rebuilding process, further rotation is likely before the competitive season begins. Moyes’ side will open their campaign at home against Crystal Palace on August 22.

Recent meetings point toward another entertaining encounter

The latest competitive meetings between these clubs have produced plenty of goals. Newcastle claimed a convincing 4-1 victory at Everton in November 2025, but the Toffees responded with a 3-2 triumph at St James’ Park in February 2026. Across those two games, both teams scored in each encounter and a total of 10 goals were produced.

Those results should not be taken as a direct prediction for a preseason friendly, but the current form of both sides offers another reason to expect an open contest. Newcastle are still adapting to Jaissle’s demanding system, which can leave spaces during attacking transitions, while their forward line has already shown its quality against Valencia. Everton face similar defensive questions, but possess enough attacking options to threaten when the game becomes stretched.

With both managers likely to continue rotating their squads, the match could become increasingly open as the second half progresses.

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