Newcastle v Everton: match preview

Rafael Benítez paid £12m to sign Jacob Murphy for Newcastle from Norwich in 2017 but he experienced a slow start to life on Tyneside. Indeed, following loan stints at West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday, Murphy was expected to be sold to a Championship club this summer but instead was a surprise inclusion in Steve Bruce’s Premier League squad. It looked an excellent call when an apparently reborn Murphy shone at right-back before scoring a late equaliser as Newcastle drew at Wolves last week. Bruce now says he does not dare drop him against Everton. Maybe Benítez’s judgment was right after all. Louise Taylor

Sunday 2pm Sky Sports Premier League

Venue St James’ Park

Last season Newcastle 1 Everton 2

Odds H 3-1 A Evens D 5-2

Referee Stuart Attwell

This season G3 Y18 R1 6.33 cards/game

NEWCASTLE

Subs from Gillespie, Dummett, Krafth, Manquillo, Carroll, Fraser, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Yedlin, Clark, Joelinton

Doubtful Lascelles (foot)

Injured Dubravka (calf, Dec), Shelvey (hernia, unknown), Ritchie (shoulder, unknown), Gayle (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Discipline Y13 R0

Form WLDWLD

Leading scorer Wilson 4

EVERTON

Subs from Olsen, Lössl, Virgínia, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Gomes, Bernard, Davies, Iwobi, Simms

Doubtful None

Injured Rodríguez (ankle, 7 Nov), Coleman (hamstring, 7 Nov), Holgate (toe, 21 Nov), Tosun (knee, 21 Nov), Gbamin (achilles, Dec)

Suspended Digne (one match), Richarlison (second of three)

Discipline Y7 R2

Form WWWWDL

Leading scorer Calvert-Lewin 7