Everton will look to boost their chances of securing a top-eight finish at the end of what has been a largely disappointing Premier League season when they host in-form Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday night.

The Toffees would have been targeting seventh spot just a few weeks ago, but Burnley's fine run of form coupled with the fact that they have taken just two points from the last nine available mean that eighth is now the best they can realistically hope for.

The latest of those points came in a 1-1 draw against top flight strugglers Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium last weekend, with Kyle Naughton's own goal in the first half being cancelled out by Jordan Ayew's 19 minutes from time to give the Welsh club a share of the spoils, subsequently leaving the travelling fans frustrated and calling for Sam Allardyce's head.

Despite their impressive home form in 2018, Allardyce's men certainly won't find it easy to pick up all three points against the Magpies, who have won four straight Premier League matches to surpass the magic 40-point mark and to lie just one point adrift of their opponents on Monday.

The manager made one change to his side against the Swans from the previous draw in the Merseyside derby as Idrissa Gueye replaced Tom Davies in the XI, and the 63-year-old could be considering making more alterations against the Toon and to start to give other fringe players a chance to impress for next season, given their campaign is ultimately over.

Here is how Everton must line up against Newcastle, ahead of Jordan Pickford in goal…

Allardyce has stuck with a settled back five – Pickford, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman – in recent weeks with Ramiro Funes Mori and Cuco Martina on the substitutes' bench, and Ashley Williams not even making the 18.

There is no reason for the former England manager to change things up in with his backline against the Magpies, especially seeing as the Merseyside outfit have only conceded once in their previous 180 minutes of Premier League football, and he will be looking to full-backs Coleman and Baines to make an impact in the final third.

Despite Morgan Schneiderlin being far from popular with the Goodison Park faithful – they were left unimpressed on Twitter by the Frenchman's comments on his future this week – the former Manchester United midfielder has been more of a regular than Idrissa Gueye or Tom Davies in the middle of the park for the Toffees in recent weeks.

Youngster Beni Baningime came on as a substitute at the Liberty Stadium last weekend and Allardyce must look to give him an opportunity to impress and prove he can play a big role next season, starting alongside Gueye in place of Schneiderlin on Monday.

Allardyce reverted back to a 4-2-3-1 system against Swansea last time out having played with a 4-3-3 formation against Liverpool, but he should stick with the former against a Newcastle side that are likely to play with a 4-4-1-1 system.

While Cenk Tosun should continue up top with Wayne Rooney in central attacking midfield and Theo Walcott on the right, the Toffees manager should consider making a change on the wing, with Nikola Vlasic being given a chance to impress from the start in place of Yannick Bolasie, who is still struggling to find his form following his return from a long-term injury.

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