This is a match of real significance for both sides involved, with Alan Pardew's Newcastle just inside the top 10 in 10th place and Roberto Martínez's Everton sitting in a below-expected 12th place. Both sides have won only one of their last six games, Newcastle's coming against league leaders Chelsea and Everton's coming against struggling QPR.
Everton will surely be used to the congested fixture list which they've had to deal with all season due to competing in the Europa League. Many are blaming their poor form on their inclusion in the Europa League, which is not helped by the fact that they have a very thin squad in terms of quality at the moment.
They are expected to help deal with this with a few signings in January, especially due to qualifying into the next stages of the Europa League and now having to also compete in the FA Cup from January. However, Martínez blamed his side's lack of ability to be clinical in front of goal in their last game against Stoke at home, which they lost 1-0. The Spaniard stated, "We'll need to be clinical on Sunday because we weren't (against Stoke) and it cost us."
Compared to last year, Newcastle are also under-performing, as both sides were contenders for a place in the top six at this stage last season. Pardew seemed to have won the fans back with six wins in a row, after a dreadful start, but has returned to the disastorous form which his side exhibited in the opening games of the season.
On the contrary, Newcastle now have two home games in a row against Everton and Burnley, which could see them easily take maximum points out of both if they perform to their best.
With nine players missing out against the previous game against Manchester United, Pardew said, "I have my medical team under full jurisdiction to get some bodies back and maybe in January we need to get one or two in to make sure we push on in the second half of the season."
He went on to say "We have had a difficult year. I think this year with new players we should have been better than perhaps we were at the start of the season, but we have done well, particularly with the young players."
This is a very important game for both sides and managers included, and could see a change of form for one of the sides if they come out of the game as victors.
Date: Sunday 28th December 2014
Time: 16:15 GMT
Venue: St James' Park
Referee: Craig Pawson
Team news
Newcastle United: Jak Alnwick will continue to start in goal, Mehdi Abeid and Paul Dummett are doubts for the game, and Siem de Jong will miss out due to not being considered fully match-fit yet.
Everton: Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka will miss out through injury, Steven Naismith misses out through suspension, furthermore both John Stones and Kevin Mirallas are doubts for the upcoming game.