Newcastle qualify for Champions League despite loss to Everton

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Newcastle United have qualified for the UEFA Champions League, despite a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton on a dramatic final day of the Premier League season.

The Magpies needed a helping hand from Manchester United, who beat Newcastle's fellow top-five chasers Aston Villa 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Chelsea's victory away to Nottingham Forest also helped Eddie Howe’s team secure a place in Europe’s elite competition for the second time in three seasons.

But Newcastle achieved qualification the hard way, on a nervy afternoon at St James’ Park, where Carlos Alcaraz’s second-half header sealed the victory for David Moyes’ side.

Newcastle claimed the fifth and final Champions League spot on goal difference, ahead of Villa, and were joined in qualifying on the final day by third-placed Manchester City and fourth-placed Chelsea.

How the match unfolded

Both sides struggled to create any clear openings early on, with Alcaraz and James Garner’s efforts from distance forcing Nick Pope into some simple saves.

At the other end, Jordan Pickford was on hand to deny Sven Botman twice in quick succession, first tipping over his header before a smart reflex stop with his foot from a corner soon after.

Not to be outdone by his opposite goalkeeper, Pope produced a stunning stop to prevent Alcaraz’s header from Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross from opening the scoring.

But the Everton duo of Alcaraz and Mykolenko combined for the opening goal, with the Argentine midfielder sending a thumping header past Pope to stun the home crowd.

Newcastle continued to push for an equaliser, with Alexander Isak and Fabian Schar going close, but Everton held on, though both teams were celebrating at full-time.

Magpies narrowly return Europe’s top table

Though failing to get the desired result or performance against Everton, Newcastle will not care after securing Champions League football once again next season.

Their cause was helped by the return of top scorer Isak, who had missed their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend with a groin injury, but they struggled to get him involved in the action, with the Swede often pulling into the wide positions to get a touch of the ball.

Despite their dominance in possession, Everton’s threat on the counter created a nervy atmosphere among the home supporters, with Newcastle thankful for Pope’s interventions.

As news of Levi Colwill’s goal for Chelsea at Nottingham Forest filtered into the stadium, the tension only heightened, with that nervous energy transferring onto the pitch when Alcaraz nodded Everton ahead.

Even with news of Amad's goal for Man Utd spreading later, the Magpies wanted to finish strongly, but could not find a way past Pickford, who was in inspired form for the Toffees.

Newcastle can reflect on an impressive domestic season, having finished high enough in the Premier League to qualify for next season's Champions League, while also ending their 56-year wait for a major trophy by winning the EFL Cup in March.

New beginnings for Everton

With the emotions of earning a victory in their final fixture at Goodison Park last time out, Everton came into this match with one eye already on next season, when they will complete a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Many predicted the Toffees would crumble given the context of this fixture for their opponents, but they threatened to score on multiple occasions in the first half.

Often so difficult to break down, Everton’s stern defence frustrated the anxious crowd inside St. James’, with the home support then silenced by Alcaraz’s opening goal.

The visitors could have gone further in front late on, but substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a strike saved by Pope before firing the rebound over the crossbar.

It has been a remarkable turnaround under the returning Moyes, who took over the Toffees when they were 16th and one point above the relegation zone back in January, going on to win seven of his first 19 matches across all competitions in his second stint on Merseyside.

Match reports

Newcastle report | Everton report

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Key facts

Newcastle have ended a Premier League campaign with back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2011/12, also losing against Everton in Matchweek 38 back then.

Indeed, Newcastle had won six successive home league matches before this loss.

Everton have ended a Premier League campaign with three successive wins for the very first time. Prior to this run, the Toffees had won just two of their previous 12 league games (W7 L3).

Since 19 January (Everton’s first win since David Moyes’ return), only three sides have won more Premier League points than them (31).

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