Despite losing late in the day at Chelsea on Sunday, Newcastle’s prospects of avoiding the drop are looking a whole lot brighter after an otherwise unbeaten start to 2022, which included a 3-1 victory over the Toffees at St. James’ Park last month.
In contrast, the Merseysiders have taken just four points from the last 33 available, with a first relegation in more than 70 years now a very real possibility for Frank Lampard’s side, who only sit above the Premier League’s bottom three on goal difference.
Despite the Toffees’ struggles of late, though, Howe was quick to acknowledge the scale of the challenge facing his side at a floodlit Goodison Park – the third of four away games in succession for the 14th-placed Magpies.
“I’m sure it’ll be a very big occasion. We have to be fully prepared for what I’m sure will be a really good atmosphere,” Howe said. “I think there’ll be a lot of emotion in the game. We need to handle that ourselves and control our own start to the game, and try and impose ourselves as we have done in this spell of away games; I’ve been really impressed with how we’ve conducted ourselves and how we’ve managed certain elements of all of the games we’ve had in recent weeks.
“It’s going to be a severe test because Everton have got a really good squad of players. I really admire Frank and the work he’s doing, and we know we’re going to have to be at our best.
“When you play away from home, you need to show a lot of different characteristics. What pleased me against Chelsea was the discipline and the tactical adaptability we showed in the game, and I thought we controlled the tempo of the game really well – which you have to do when you play against those teams. The only unfortunate thing for us is that one slight lapse cost us a massive point. We have to learn from that and review it, as we have done. I was very pleased with the majority of the game.”
Howe revealed that Joe Willock “should be okay” for Thursday’s game, with the midfielder having sat out the Magpies’ trip to Stamford Bridge because of an illness. But Jonjo Shelvey, absent on Sunday for the same reason, is cause for “slightly bigger concern”, with Joelinton “touch and go”.
Those three players were virtual ever-presents during United’s renaissance in late January and February, forming a highly effective triumvirate in central midfield. Despite each being absent at some point over the last fortnight, the Magpies have remained competitive and industrious in the engine room, something that hasn’t been lost on boss Howe.
“You need that consistency with your players whether they’re playing or they’re not playing,” he said. “You need to be able to change players and, though you won’t get exactly the same performance, you need to get a similar one in terms of the identity of the team.
“When you look at the likes of Sean Longstaff coming in (on Sunday) after not playing for a decent period of time, I thought he was excellent. It’s a testament to how he’s looked after himself that he was able to go 90 minutes in what was a very physically demanding game. I think that’s the same for a number of players who’ve taken their opportunity because they’ve trained well and prepared well behind the scenes.”
