Newcastle need to be wary of Theo Walcott in their Premier League clash with Everton, as the inconsistent forward has a history of showing up against the Toon.

Rafa Benitez and his squad travel to Goodison Park tonight, looking to bounce back from their first defeat in four games against West Ham on Saturday.

Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Everton are in a similar position, having also gone undefeated for three matches before losing in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Walcott disappointed against Liverpool, but he’ll be relishing playing The Magpies mid-week.

Walcott vs Newcastle

Theo Walcott has had a hand in more Premier League goals against Newcastle than he has against any other side, with 10 (five goals and five assists).

Worryingly for the Magpies, he’s managed those stats in just 13 Premier League games against them.

The Englishman even proved the difference the last time the two teams met. The ex-Arsenal man scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Everton last season, in what was just his third goal for the club.

Walcott has only scored more goals against West Ham in the Premier League (six) and will be looking to improve his current goal tally against Newcastle.

Toon supporters will find it hard to forget the forward’s part in a 7-3 win for Arsenal against Newcastle in 2012.

(Photo credit GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Walcott was the man of the match that day in a game which saw him score a hat-trick and also assist two goals.

He hit an individual record of 21 goals for The Gunners that season, the heights of which he has failed to reach since.

Walcott’s poor form good news for Toon defence

Despite the stats looking bad for Newcastle on paper, Benitez will be confident his defence can stop the threat of Walcott.

The forward has only actually scored one goal in his last five matches against Newcastle. And he hasn’t recorded a single assist in that time.

Now aged 29, the teenage prodigy has never quite reached his potential over the past five years.

There are even question marks over whether Walcott will even start against Newcastle.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Against Liverpool he was largely ineffective, in what for many Everton fans is the most important game of the year.

He was eventually replaced by youngster Ademola Lookman, who made a much bigger impact in his short time on the pitch. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Lookman now started ahead of him in the Newcastle game.

But whoever starts, Rafa Benitez will be looking for a big performance from his defenders.

There is plenty of competition for places at centre-back this season, and the 3-0 loss to West Ham has opened the door for those who have lost their place in the side.

The Everton game may be a chance for Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles to stake their claim for a starting place.

Related Topics

Close