Chasing the Top: Newcastle United & Everton - GW3 FPL Preview & Player Picks
Sitting just two points behind the league leaders, Newcastle United and Everton have quietly put together identical records (1 win, 1 draw, +2 goal difference) through the opening two rounds. Both grabbed dramatic late moments in Round 2 — Newcastle with an overhead-kick winner, Everton with a stoppage-time leveler. Here's what the data says about both sides heading into the next round, plus the FPL assets worth tracking.
Current Premier League Standings (Top 6)
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | Hull City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| 4 | Everton | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| 5 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
Newcastle and Everton have both shown they can win ugly, and both got exactly what their underlying numbers suggested they deserved in Round 2 — one narrow win, one hard-fought draw.
1. Newcastle United: Clinical Over Control
Round 2 Review: Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Newcastle United
New manager Matthias Jaissle picked up his first win in dramatic fashion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite Spurs having 58% possession and out-shooting them on target 6-2, Newcastle made their limited chances count: Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, before Yoane Wissa produced a spectacular overhead kick in the 72nd to seal it.
Key Stats Breakdown (FotMob)
- Possession: 42% — Newcastle were happy to sit in and hit Tottenham on the counter, similar in spirit to Hull's approach at the top of the table.
- xG: 0.72 against Tottenham's 1.12 — Newcastle were outplayed on the underlying numbers but were far more efficient in front of goal.
- Shots on Target: 3.0 per match — 15th in the league, one of the lower marks among the current top six.
- Touches in Opponent's Box: 37 per match — 10th in the league, a modest but respectable return.
- Goalkeeper Saves: 4 — Lukás Hornícek was called into action repeatedly and kept a clean sheet in an 8.5-rated performance.
Top Player Performances (FotMob Ratings)
| Player | Pos | Rating | G | A | xG+xA | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hall | DEF | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.34 | 90' |
| Lukás Hornícek (GK) | GK | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 90' |
| Amar Dedic | DEF | 8.3 | 0 | 1 | 0.06 | 90' |
| Anthony Elanga | MID | 8.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.30 | 82' |
| Yoane Wissa | FWD | 7.7 | 1 | 0 | 0.35 | 82' |
Squad & Injury News
Recent Setup (4-2-3-1):
Hornícek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Lewis Hall; González, Miley; Elanga, Ramsey, Barnes; Wissa
Injuries: Joelinton, Burn (ankle), and Osula (foot) are all OUT. Livramento is a long-shot doubt at 25%, while Touré is a more likely return at 75%.
Newcastle United Player Picks
1. Yoane Wissa (FWD) — Trending Up
On the Fantasy Football Scout watchlist with an "Up" trend, driven by both current form and a favourable run of fixtures. His overhead-kick winner in Round 2 shows the quality that makes him a real goal threat, and the fixture list ahead only strengthens the case.
2. Dan Thiaw (DEF) — Trending Up
Also trending up on the watchlist, benefiting from the same favourable fixture stretch as Wissa. A clean sheet in Round 2 adds to the appeal of a Newcastle defense that's conceded just twice in two matches.
3. Anthony Elanga (MID) — Historic Start
Elanga has scored in Newcastle's first two league games — a feat the club hasn't managed since Alan Shearer in 2003-04. That kind of early-season form, combined with reasonable price points typical of wide midfielders, makes him worth tracking closely.
2. Everton: Set Pieces and Substance
Round 2 Review: AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Everton
A tight, high-quality draw at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth edged the underlying numbers (2.16 xG vs 1.84) but Everton matched them shot for shot and grabbed a point through a James Tarkowski header in the first minute of stoppage time.
Key Stats Breakdown (FotMob)
- Shots on Target: 7 in this match, 6.0 per match average — 7th in the league, genuinely competitive with several top-half sides.
- Touches in Opponent's Box: 55 per match — an excellent 3rd in the league, trailing only Manchester City and Liverpool.
- Big Chances: 3 created — matching Bournemouth's tally despite having less of the ball (41% possession).
- Clearances: 32 — a heavy defensive workload that the back line handled well outside of the one lapse for Bournemouth's goal.
- Aerial Duels: only 38% won — an area of relative weakness that ironically didn't stop Tarkowski's headed equalizer from a corner.
Top Player Performances (FotMob Ratings)
| Player | Pos | Rating | G | A | xG+xA | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Tarkowski | DEF | 8.3 | 1 | 0 | 0.11 | 90' |
| Jordan Pickford | GK | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 90' |
(Remaining top performers in this match were Bournemouth players — Everton's returns were concentrated in these two.)
Squad & Injury News
Recent Setup (4-2-3-1):
Pickford; Röhl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry
Injuries: Norgaard is OUT (groin). Hayden Hackney is described as "touch and go" with an ankle issue, so his involvement is uncertain.
Everton Player Picks
1. James Tarkowski (DEF) — Set-Piece Menace
On the watchlist. A stoppage-time equalizer from a corner underlines his aerial threat at the top of the pitch, on top of solid underlying defensive numbers. A strong "attacking defender" option in a side that ranks 3rd in the league for touches in the opposition box.
2. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (MID) — Creative Engine
Also on the watchlist. As Everton's central creative outlet, he's positioned to benefit from a team that's generating plenty of shot volume (13 shots, 7 on target in Round 2) even without dominating possession.
3. Jordan Pickford (GK) — Consistent Watchlist Pick
A watchlist regular, and for good reason — Everton's defensive shape allowed just 1 goal in Round 2 despite facing a team that created 6 big chances. Pickford's shot-stopping and Everton's low block make him a reliable source of save points and clean sheet upside.
League Team Stats Head-to-Head: Newcastle vs Everton
| Stat | Newcastle | Rank | Everton | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shots on Target / Match | 3.0 | 15th | 6.0 | 7th |
| Touches in Opp Box | 37 | 10th | 55 | 3rd |
| Total Distance / Match | 113.5 km | 14th | 113.7 km | 13th |
Everton's underlying attacking numbers are considerably stronger than Newcastle's despite the two teams having identical records. Everton rank 3rd in the league for touches in the opposition box and 7th for shots on target, while Newcastle sit in the bottom half for both metrics. If this gap in chance creation persists, Everton may be better placed to kick on from 4th, while Newcastle's results could become harder to sustain without an uptick in shot volume.
Final Verdict: 3rd & 4th Place — Players to Watch
| # | Player | Team | Pos | Why Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yoane Wissa | Newcastle | FWD | Trending up, favourable fixtures, overhead-kick winner |
| 2 | James Tarkowski | Everton | DEF | Set-piece goal threat, on watchlist |
| 3 | Dan Thiaw | Newcastle | DEF | Trending up, clean sheet in R2 |
| 4 | K. Dewsbury-Hall | Everton | MID | Creative hub in a high shot-volume side |
| 5 | Anthony Elanga | Newcastle | MID | Scored in both opening games, historic form |
Newcastle are winning on efficiency and moments of individual quality, while Everton's more balanced underlying numbers suggest their form is built on slightly firmer foundations. Both sides offer legitimate FPL value right now, with Newcastle's watchlist duo (Wissa and Thiaw) standing out as the highest-upside picks given their favourable run of fixtures.
Coming up next: a look at the bottom three teams in the table — Coventry City, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham Hotspur — still searching for their first win of the season. Catch up on the top two teams, Manchester City and Hull City, if you missed it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yoane Wissa a good FPL captain option this week?
Wissa is trending up on the Fantasy Football Scout watchlist thanks to strong current form and a favourable run of fixtures. His overhead-kick winner in Round 2 shows real goal threat, though he's more of a strong differential than a nailed-on captain.
Should I pick Newcastle defenders like Dan Thiaw for FPL?
Yes, Thiaw is trending up on the watchlist and helped Newcastle keep a clean sheet in Round 2. Combined with a favourable fixture run, he's a sensible defensive pick right now.
Is James Tarkowski worth owning in FPL?
Tarkowski is on the expert watchlist and scored a stoppage-time equalizer from a corner in Round 2, underlining his set-piece threat. Everton also rank 3rd in the league for touches in the opposition box, supporting his attacking upside as a defender.
What is Everton's predicted lineup for the next Gameweek?
According to Fantasy Football Scout, Everton are expected to use a 4-2-3-1: Pickford; Röhl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry, with Norgaard out through injury.
Are Newcastle a better FPL team than Everton right now?
Statistically, Everton have stronger underlying numbers, ranking 3rd in touches in the opposition box and 7th in shots on target compared to Newcastle's 10th and 15th. Newcastle are winning through efficiency and individual moments of quality rather than territorial dominance.
Data sources: FotMob, Fantasy Football Scout | Published: August 30, 2026
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