Premier League preview: Everton v Newcastle

Everton will be out to silence rivals Liverpool, while Newcastle could clinch a Champions League berth at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Newcastle, in fifth on 65 points, could climb to third with a win at Everton and go straight into the group stage of next season’s Champions League if other results fall their way.

Newcastle would need Arsenal (67 points) to lose at West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham (66) to falter at home to Fulham to move above the London-based sides.

Senegal international Demba Ba, unstoppable earlier this season with 16 goals, is yet to score since countryman Papiss Demba Cisse made his debut for Newcastle in February.

Cisse has netted 13 times from his 12 appearances following his signing from German outfit Freiburg while Ba has been used more on the left side up front than a sole target.

“As I’ve said all along, I still fancy he’ll score before the end of the season,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew told the Sunderland Echo.

“And who knows? He might get the most important goal of the season.”

Newcastle have won seven of their last nine games, falling to title favourites Manchester City in their most recent outing, while Everton are undefeated in their past eight Premier League starts.

Everton – seventh on 53 points – lead neighbours Liverpool, who travel to Swansea, by one point and are in prime position to secure the Merseyside bragging rights for the first time since 2005.

“It’s nice to finish at home and it’s nice that there’s something on the game,” Everton defender Phil Jagielka told the Liverpool Echo.

“We still might need some sort of result come Sunday and if that’s the case I’m sure the fans will get behind us and we’ll send them home quite happy.”

Newcastle edged out Everton 2-1 last time the sides met at Sports Direct Arena in November.