2022-2023 Premier League, Pt. 2

(The Guardian) Newcastle United: Eddie Howe has just told reporters he had no problem with Anthony Gordon’s angry reaction to being substituted at Brentford last weekend as Newcastle tried to close out their 2-1 win. Brought on as a substitute at half-time, the 22-year-old reacted petulantly as he was replaced with one minute of normal time remaining.

“We’ve had a conversation,” said Howe. “His enthusiasm, aggression, motivation levels are really, really high and he’s fiercely determined to do well and achieve, and it is one of his hallmarks, it’s one of his strengths. We want to embrace that, we love that about him. But in certain moments he needs a cool head as well, so it’s about trying to explain the situation, talk through it. I’ve got no issue with him at all. He’s trained really well this week.”

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Everton: As their battle against the drop continues, Everton will fancy their chances of victory when they host an out-0f-sorts Fulham side who have lost five consecutive games at Goodison Park tomorrow. Everton go into the game hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference and could really do with all three points.

“We’re trying to build something here that can be down to us, what we’re doing, what we’re playing like, what we’re achieving,” said Sean Dyche. “That’s the main focus. Woany [assistant manager Ian Woan] has a good saying: ‘There has to be a future in it’. As much as you will take a lucky one and you’ll take one when it’s not your day, but you still win or you get a point and all that – of course you take those over a season, they’re still important.

“But you want to see a performance, you want to see a team that is performing in the right manner with the right things to go and win games, and that’s certainly a more important factor rather than just hoping for the best with other teams’ results.”

Dyche will be without suspended midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure tomorrow, while his captain Seamus Coleman is also out with a hamstring injury. Speaking about life down among the Premier League’s dead men, Dyche was philosophical.

“It can happen to more or less – not literally – everyone, it seems,” he said. “I doubt Manchester City will find themselves in that situation currently, but it’s happened to most teams. You fall down there for a spell, you have to find your way and navigate your way through it. There’s not an exact way of doing it, but I think I know some ways that are very important to us.”