Newcastle had most of the chances and lost 3-1 to Everton

Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 in the League Cup, with Newcastle holding most of the ball and the shots but scoring only once.

Newcastle fired 27 shots at Everton and came away with one goal. In this league a side averages 13.4 shots a match, so Newcastle's total was roughly double the usual load, yet it was Everton who won 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton's work came in two quick strikes. James Garner opened the scoring in the 34th minute, and Hayden Hackney made it 2-0 in the 45th, finishing from a pass by Thierno Barry. Everton managed only 11 shots, seven of them from inside the box, but their expected goals figure of 1.88 shows those were good chances. Expected goals, or xG, gives each shot a value based on how often shots from that spot tend to go in, so a shot from close range counts for far more than one from distance.

Barry did more than set up the second goal. He scored himself in the 69th minute, finishing a move started by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and both of his shots found the target. Three of his passes led directly to a shot, and he won nine duels, the individual contests for the ball, which earned him a match rating of 9.

Newcastle, though, had more of the game by most measures. They kept 56% of the ball, completed 345 of their 414 passes, and took ten corners to Everton's four. Their expected goals of 2.1 sat above the league figure of 1.75 per side, so their openings were real ones, but they converted only one. Dan Burn's 88th-minute goal, set up by Joe Willock, was the only reply, and Willock himself produced six passes that led to a shot.

Discipline was untidy on both sides. Everton picked up five yellow cards, Newcastle three, and nobody was sent off. Jordan Pickford made eight saves for Everton and was booked himself late on, as the game tightened in its final minutes.

Recent form points in different directions. Everton have won two of their last six, both 1-0 at home, and drawn two of the others. Newcastle have lost three of their last six, but two of those defeats were 4-1 away from home, the heaviest losses on either side's run.

Player of the matchT. Barry1 goal · 1 assist9.0

J. Pickford8 saves7.9

H. Hackney1 goal · 1 assist7.7

J. Willock1 assist7.7