Newcastle United have qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to Everton in their final match of the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon.
Carlos Alcaraz scored the only goal of the clash in the 65th minute, with Newcastle struggling from an attacking point of view at St James' Park, and they ran the risk of missing out on Champions League football for next term.
However, Aston Villa's 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford allowed Eddie Howe's side to claim fifth spot in the Premier League table, with the Magpies therefore returning to the Champions League.
As for Everton, the Toffees have finished the season in 13th spot, with David Moyes performing incredibly since returning to the club in January, boasting a record of eight wins, seven draws and five defeats from his 19 games at the helm.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
This was an incredibly lacklustre performance from Newcastle, and it would have been extremely difficult for the club to take if they missed out on Champions League football courtesy of their defeat to Everton.
However, as it transpired, Man United, of all clubs, came to their rescue, with the Red Devils putting in one of their best performances of the season to overcome Aston Villa, who finished in sixth, level on points with fifth-placed Newcastle, who make the Champions League on goal difference, with Nottingham Forest in seventh.
Newcastle finished seventh last term, but they will now be back at the top European table next term, and it is shaping up to be a very interesting summer transfer window for the club.
As for Everton, the Merseyside outfit were 16th in the Premier League table, one point clear of the relegation zone, boasting just three wins from 19 matches, when Moyes returned to Goodison Park for the second time.
The Scot has performed incredibly to comfortably lead the Toffees to safety, and it would not be a surprise to see them push for a top-half finish next term, with this display another demonstration of their huge progress.
NEWCASTLE VS. EVERTON HIGHLIGHTS
65th min: Newcastle 0-1 Everton (Carlos Alcaraz)
Everton make the breakthrough in the 65th minute of the contest, and the goal comes from Alcaraz, with the forward heading a cross from Vitalii Mykolenko into the bottom corner of the goal - it is a super finish.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JORDAN PICKFORD
© Imago
Pickford was at his best at St James' Park, with England's number one securing a clean sheet for Everton, and he played a crucial role in the Merseyside outfit ending their campaign with an excellent win.
The 31-year-old made four saves, while he took the pressure off his defenders with a number of positive pieces of goalkeeping, with Pickford a key contributor to Everton's impressive victory against Howe's team.
NEWCASTLE VS. EVERTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Newcastle 66%-34% Everton
Shots: Newcastle 17-14 Everton
Shots on target: Newcastle 6-6 Everton
Corners: Newcastle 12-3 Everton
Fouls: Newcastle 12-9 Everton
WHAT NEXT?
Newcastle's first friendly of the summer is scheduled to take place against Celtic on July 19, with the Magpies set to begin pre-season training at the start of the same month.
Everton, meanwhile, are also set to start pre-season training in July ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, and the Toffees will take part in the Premier League Summer Series at the end of July against Bournemouth, West Ham United and Manchester United.
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Matt Law
