Michael Owen has backed former side Newcastle United to take a point from Everton this weekend.
The Magpies lie four places and six points behind the Blues in the Premier League table, but Owen believes that a recent upturn in form could lead to a sharing of the spoils on Saturday.
Speaking to BetVictor, Owen said: “Everton have won four of their last five away league games at Newcastle but United have won their last four home PL games by an aggregate score of 9-1.
“I feel it will be honours even, however, at St James’ Park.
“Everton have kept a clean sheet in their last couple of league games and won two of their last three on the road, but this is an improving Magpies’ side – despite a below par performance at the City of London Stadium last weekend – although they may have to settle for a point from what promises to be an open entertaining encounter.”
OPINION
This time three months ago, the prospect of this one ending in a draw would have been widely panned. The Magpies were languishing, to put it mildly, and while the Toffees were slumping, their form had yet to hit the concerning level that it has since. Now, however, with the Toon Army enjoying something of a renaissance, and with Everton hitting the buffers since the turn of the year, this one is anybody’s game. Newcastle were very poor against West Ham last weekend, and they have lost Sean Longstaff to injury, but you would fancy them to pick themselves up, dust themselves down and go again, like they have all season. You wonder if Everton have that same level of fight about them at the moment, and in truth, they probably don’t. Owen might have gone with a draw here, and that’s probably a sensible shout, but honestly, there’s no reason why Newcastle can’t sneak all three point in this one.
