Rondon earns precious point at Goodison

RONDON STRIKES AGAIN TO EARN BATTLING MAGPIES A DRAW AT EVERTON

NEWCASTLE United moved four points clear of the drop zone after collecting what could prove to be a precious point at Goodison Park. Salomon Rondon’s goal put the Magpies ahead against Everton on Merseyside, before Richarlison pulled the Toffees level.

And, although Martin Dubravka was called upon to make a string of first-half saves, Rafa Benitez’s Magpies enjoyed a relatively comfortable second half as they edged their way further away from the bottom three.

Here, NUFC Writer Chris Waugh takes us through what we learned from another positive away performance from the Magpies at Goodison Park...

THE JACOB MURPHY ENIGMA PERSISTS

Benitez was not only without an automatic starter at left-back in Paul Dummett due to injury, he was also deprived of one of his firstchoice wingers in Matt Ritchie, too.

The only match Ritchie had failed to start this season before the game at Goodison Park was the defeat at Manchester City, and that was through injury, but Benitez was forced into a reshuffle due to the winger’s suspension.

Just as he did at Turf Moor last month, Benitez sprung a surprise with both his system and personnel, with Newcastle reverting into a 5-4-1 formation in defence, which was more a 3-4-3 in attack.

Murphy was parachuted in from outside of the matchday squad at the weekend to start out wide alongside Christian Atsu, while Jamaal Lascelles also came into the side as Newcastle’s third centreback. Benitez’s unusual system once again caught an opponent by surprise, with the Toffees guilty of leaving gaps on the break for Newcastle to attack into.

Unlike at the weekend, Newcastle were far more defensively solid but, whenever they won possession, the likes of Murphy, Atsu and DeAndre Yedlin burst forward at pace to support Rondon.

It was Murphy who caused the most damage, particularly during the first half, and it was the winger’s positive run forward down the left and his wicked cross into the area which set up Rondon’s opener.

For large spells, Murphy was Newcastle’s best outlet during the first half, though he tired during the second and was replaced by Perez shortly after the hour mark. As is often the case, Benitez opted to field 23-year-old Murphy against one of the Premier League’s top sides.

He trusts him to perform in the most-high-profile games, but it also begs the question: why doesn’t Murphy start more often?

He remains an enigma - or, at the very least, Benitez’s scant use of the winger is puzzling.

MARTIN DUBRAVKA IS VITAL TO NEWCASTLE

There were some rather bizarre reports which emerged in Italy in