Rotation and an open pre-season: prediction for Newcastle vs Everton, 12.08.2026
On Wednesday, August 12, Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh will host a friendly between Newcastle and Everton. The match kicks off at 17:15 UK time and serves as one of the last tune-ups for both squads ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign. Despite Newcastle's formal status as hosts, the game will be played on neutral ground.
Newcastle: a new era begins with a win
It's been a whirlwind summer for the Magpies. On July 31, Eddie Howe stepped down as head coach, replaced by 38-year-old German Matthias Jaissle. The new boss is renowned for his commitment to high-intensity pressing, vertical football, and quick transitions after winning the ball.
Jaissle's debut proved successful. On August 8, Newcastle defeated Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla, with both goals after the break coming from Yoane Wissa. Before that, results were far less impressive: a 1-1 draw with Gateshead and a 1-4 defeat to Bristol City. So, in all three recent friendlies, the Magpies both scored and conceded.
One question mark ahead of the trip to Edinburgh is the condition of Anthony Elanga. In the match against Valencia, the winger left the pitch after a harsh tackle from José Gayà. The incident initially looked worrying, but Jaissle later reported that a serious injury was avoided. Elanga’s participation in the next friendly will depend on his recovery.
Despite the win over Valencia, Jaissle is unlikely to abandon his experimental approach. In Spain, he rotated heavily, handed minutes to youngsters, and gave debuts to new signings. With time still to go before the opening league clash with Liverpool, the Everton game is another opportunity to test combinations and instill new tactical principles.
Everton: inconsistent results, defensive issues persist
David Moyes’s pre-season has also been a mixed bag. Everton opened their friendlies with a convincing 4-0 win over Dundee, followed by a goalless draw with Bolton, a 0-1 loss to Stoke City, a 2-1 victory over Hamburg, and most recently, a 1-3 defeat to Stuttgart.
The last two games are especially intriguing from a predictive standpoint. Against both Hamburg and Stuttgart, the Toffees scored and conceded. In Germany, Moyes fielded a highly experimental lineup against Stuttgart: Tyler Dibling, Carlos Alcaraz, Beto, Hayden Hackney, and Harrison Armstrong all started, while Thierno Barry converted a penalty after coming off the bench.
The club’s rebuilding continues apace, with Christian Nørgaard joining the squad this week. That’s another reason why Moyes is expected to keep experimenting with his lineups in these friendlies, rather than sticking to the most reliable formula for results. Everton’s first competitive fixture is set for August 22 at home to Crystal Palace.
Head-to-head history hints at goals
Their last two official meetings were high-scoring affairs. In November 2025, Newcastle hammered Everton 4-1 away, only for the Toffees to take revenge in February 2026 with a 3-2 win at St James’ Park. Ten goals across two games, with both sides finding the net every time.
Of course, copying those results directly into a friendly would be a mistake. But the current pre-season trends also suggest a shootout. Under Jaissle, Newcastle are still adjusting and regularly allow opponents chances, while the attack already showed its teeth against Valencia. Everton are in a similar spot: plenty of attacking talent to exploit open spaces, but the Stuttgart game again exposed issues without the ball.
Rotation should fuel attacking play: Newcastle vs Everton prediction
For both teams, the result in Edinburgh is secondary to season preparations. Jaissle needs more time to get to know his squad and implement his philosophy, while Moyes also has reasons to spread minutes around. With a flurry of substitutions expected, defensive structure usually suffers in the second half of such matches.
Newcastle have both scored and conceded in all three of their recent friendlies. For Everton, both teams have scored in their last two friendlies against Hamburg and Stuttgart. Add in those two high-scoring head-to-heads (4-1 and 2-3), and a scenario with goals at both ends looks far more appealing than trying to pick a winner in this friendly.
Prediction: both teams to score – yes.
