I’ll tell you who likes away games: this guy (points to himself)!
After the miserable events in West Ham, Brentford and Marseille it felt like a bit of penal gluttony to set my alarm for 5am to jump on the train to Merseyside, but this had potential.
Taking France out of the equation in midweek (I didn’t go, once was enough in 2004, thanks), there was still room to straighten out our Premier League season by capitalizing on our win over Man City.
This would somehow involve arresting that awful away form, and a trip to one of my favorite cities is never a waste of time.
Everton is one of those games where anything can happen. The home side made a good start at their new ground but spoiled it a bit by being beaten by Tottenham, meaning we missed the chance to be the first away side to win there. If I was the first Newcastle United team to win this season that would have been enough for me.
This sold out by a pretty high score as many people clearly wanted to check off the scenic Hill Dickinson Stadium (henceforth referred to as “the Dick” due to the word count) on our debut visit there. This was slightly more manageable than Goodison (or Anfield for that matter) as a run through the city center bars was an easy precursor to a mild walk to Bramley-Moore Dock. After walking quite a distance along a huge old wall, the Dick appeared.
I must say I was impressed at first sight, the ground majestically lit against the evening sky. Sometimes stadiums just work and this one, in my opinion, hits the mark. The huge steep bowl effect is in stark contrast to the pillar-strewn partial views and crumbling wooden seats of Goodison Park, and gives the feeling of a grand European arena. Think I’ll come back here again.
As fun as it was, there was every chance this would be the setting for another awful evening, given United’s recent tendency to implode on their travels. Immediately from Everton’s kick-off there was a sharp counter, with a fine piece of skill from Big Nick Elanga unleashed on goal. His shot was rather timid and Pickford turned it around the post, but this quelled any thoughts I had that early scoring had been our downfall of late.
These thoughts were silenced for the ten seconds it took to make the turn. Miley turned it in the exact close-post melee I raved about against Man City and Malick Thiaw rose to head in his first goal for Newcastle, winning me a few bob into the bargain. I celebrated a bit there.
Fears of implosion were short-lived as United took control of the first half. Anthony Elanga had his best game since joining, absolutely terrorizing the Ev on the right and it was one of his runs that netted a really nice second. Elanga skinned his man and centered the ball, but Everton half-cleared the ball and broke to Livramento, who got away with the worst shot of the weekend as the ball headed for the corner flag but coincidentally found its way to Dan Burn. He laid it out for Miley and the Geordie lad smashed it through the makkem keeper, with Pickford completing the impressive feat by sending the shot bouncing through both his arms and legs in one sweet, beautiful movement. Two clean sheets felt important, the first time we’d scored more than once in an away game in the PL since that mythical win over Leicester.
United were well on top, with a breakaway that saw Lewis Hall hit the crossbar, but as half-time approached I think everyone would have been happy to have gone two to the good. In the 45th minute, an important event occurred that may have gone unnoticed at the time and went a long way toward resolving matters.
I was one of many who wanted to see Aaron Ramsdale get a chance in goal (although I’m also part of the population who recognizes that Nick Pope has been fantastic for us). Ramsdale did indeed get that chance and when he came out and confidently caught one of those long throws that Everton attempted, it was natural to think that Pope might not have been so forthright in his statement. This was highlighted when his quick release to Livramento allowed him to send Elanga through for another little torment of the defence. He shook off the attention of two of them and found Woltemade unnoticed on the edge of the box. Pickford stormed out and Big Nick scored a beautiful finish over him on the stroke of half-time: 3-0.
This was fantastic, even the wettest fans wouldn’t have been afraid to throw this one out as United have enough solidity at the back to negate the non-threat of a woeful Everton team. The big question was whether this could be a landslide. One criticism of the new stadium would be that the concourses aren’t the most spacious, with a half-time crush reminiscent of the tight fit at Goodison Park proper.
Everton had some problems in the second half, as the crossbar was probably still wobbly from the crack Alcaraz gave it, but United were far clear. Burn’s long ball forward released Barnes and this time Pickford had a little more fun coming off his line. However, his block for a corner only brought them a temporary reprieve as Miley’s throw was once again only half-cleared. Woltemade’s shot was desperately blocked but broke for Lewis Hall to pinpoint a cross onto Thiaw’s head for his first goal since scoring against Everton earlier in this match. Four snacks and memories of what feels like the last time we won in a Saudi-themed kit, when Jacob Murphy scored that tap-in at Everton.
As on that occasion, Everton were given consolation. Barry’s header was ruled out by VAR for a relatively harsh handball decision, but Dewsbury-Hall did get one back and brilliantly controlled Keene’s long ball before finishing past Ramsdale.
It mattered little though as United beat the rest with some slightly strange substitutions. Tonali looked devastated against Marseille so this was a decent rest for him apart from his cameo in the 90th minute, and Anthony Gordon will have enjoyed a short run against his old club as he is unpopular here. Speaking of unpopular, Jordan Pickford had a torrid time listening to the chastening songs of the lavish outing he was unlucky enough to front.
And so it was that United recorded their biggest ever away win at Everton Stadium, with a record of 100%. The Scousers are always good and I had a great night in the Cavern Quarter wrapping up Blues by quoting these stats.
I highly recommend anyone looking for a bite to tell the Evertonians they haven’t won anything in over thirty years. People who don’t like red don’t even have their faces turn that color.
Liverpool, you were great as always, I’d love an Albert Schloss in Newcastle, and many more away wins before Christmas. Back on the road just in time for the next…
Everton 1 Newcastle 4 – Saturday 29 November 2025 5.30pm
Match statistics
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Thiaw 1, 58, Miley 25, Woltemade 45
Everton:
69 Dewsbury Hall
Possess was Newcastle 51% Everton 49%
Total shots were Newcastle 13 Everton 10
Shots on target were Newcastle 8 Everton 2
Corners were Newcastle 7 Everton 8
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 28 Everton 32
Newcastle team vs Everton:
Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall (Schar 90), Joelinton, Bruno (Tonali 90), Miley, Barnes (Ramsey 71), Elanga (Willock 71), Woltemade (Gordon 90)
Unused subs:
Ruddy, Jacob Murphy, Alex Murphy, Neave
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