Everton Cap Off 24/25 Campaign With A Win!

Everton capped off the final game of the 24/25 Premier League season with a win over Newcastle through a second-half header from loanee Carlos Alcaraz.

The expectation going into the game was definitely a defeat for Everton, as Newcastle United were hoping for UEFA Champions League qualification. However, due to the fact Manchester United won against Aston Villa, Eddie Howe’s side ended the season in fifth place; they will be playing in Europe, in the Champions League, next domestic campaign. On the other hand, this game for David Moyes and Everton didn’t really mean much, as either a win, loss or draw would not have altered the Toffees' position in the Premier League table, finishing 13th, which is reasonably impressive when you look at the tragic start of the season.

As well for the Blues, this game was an emotional farewell to a fair few players, as the ambition for the club as a whole, moving into the new stadium on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey next season, collectively has led the club to decide to let a few players go, including Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucouré and a lot of loan players set to return to their parent club, such as Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrøm and Armando Broja.

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Lineups:

Newcastle:

Pope

Schar

Botman

Burn

Murphy

Guimaraes

Tonali

Livramento

Barnes

Isak

Gordon

Everton:

Pickford

Mykolenko

Keane

O’Brien

Young

Gueye

Garner

Ndiaye

Alcaraz

Harrison

Beto

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Both Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman did not feature in the squad today due to the fact Branthwaite had picked up a hamstring injury and the Irish fullback was forced off early on in the last game at Goodison Park last weekend due to a thigh injury, marking the end of an era, as Everton’s move to Bramley Moore Dock is set to begin a new chapter for the team!

The game began, and the Magpies, expectedly, were on top. A long-range shot, around 25 yards out, from Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali forced Jordan Pickford, who I'm sure had been especially focused on attempting to prevent Newcastle from claiming Champions League football next season due to the 31-year-old being a boyhood Sunderland fan, who had just gained promotion into the Premier League following their playoff final victory over Sheffield United, to make a class save. Although palmed away from danger, Alexander Isak gathered the loose ball, with the acute angle not going in the Swedish striker’s favour, allowing England's number one to make a double save to keep the game goalless.

From the corner conceded, Tonali whipped it into Dutch defender Sven Botman, and with a kerfuffle with James Garner, the centre back had the opportunity to shoot, doing so, but again Pickford was there to block the ball from trickling between his body and the post by forcing a planted foot in the way, causing it to go out for another corner, which was dealt with.

It was now Everton’s turn to attack, and the chance was almost identical to the goal later in the match, perhaps showing how Howe did not adjust to the situation that caused the Toffees to have a strong chance at goal. A ball in from the left-hand side from Ukrainian fullback Vitalii Mykolenko was placed perfectly into the path of a sprinting Carlos Alcaraz. Although not the best-placed header towards goal, the sheer amount of power on the attempt forced Nick Pope to dive and tip the ball over the crossbar, leaving Alcaraz with his head in his hands, as directing the ball anywhere else in the goal probably would have given Moyes and Everton the lead at the break.

The first talking point in the second half was the opportunity for a potential penalty for Everton. When Iliman Ndiaye picked up the ball, facing the opposite direction to goal, the Senegalese international somehow managed to dribble his way out of any danger, heading towards Pope’s goal, laying it off to Jack Harrison, who crossed it in, and struck the hand of 22-year-old English international Tino Livramento, with Mykolenko heard screaming in a plea for the decision to be taken seriously. However, after a short review, referee Tony Harrington confirmed the contact was not deemed sufficient enough to award a penalty, and the game continued as normal.

It was all Everton, with Carlos Alcaraz at the heart of it all for the Toffees! When Ndiaye laid it off on the wing for Mykolenko, the fullback crossed it in, with Alcaraz, at the same time, losing his marker, 6ft 7 in Dan Burn, heading it into the opposite corner of the net, with nothing Nick Pope could do about it as the 33-year-old stood immobile in the centre of the goal, left stunned, whereas the Argentinian midfielder celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “Sui” celebration, something the Flamengo loanee has frequently displayed throughout his short but sweet time at the Toffees. The option to purchase the player after the season is over is reported to be a fee of around £15m, and in terms of quality displayed, the decision should be a no-brainer!

Although Everton were hanging out by a thread due to the frequent attacks laid upon the back line by the Toon attack, Moyes’ side were able to hold on, claiming all three points away from home to cap off an impressive season since the 62-year-old’s appointment. Although it might have been even better if the victory had prevented Newcastle from getting Champions League football, due to the fact Aston Villa lost 2-0 against Manchester United, who have had an extremely disappointing season, especially for their standards, the Magpies qualified for next season.

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Premier League Gameweek 38:

Sunday 25th May:

Bournemouth 2-0 Leicester

Fulham 0-2 Man City

Ipswich 1-3 West Ham

Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

Man United 2-0 Aston Villa

Newcastle 0-1 Everton

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

Southampton 1-2 Arsenal

Spurs 1-4 Brighton

Wolves 1-1 Brentford

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Thank you for reading my post-match article!