Relieved Newcastle take fifth despite Alcaraz playing on their nerves

For quite a while the defiant brilliance of Everton's Jordan Pickford and the attacking excellence of Carlos Alcaraz threatened to derail Newcastle's Champions League ambitions.

- Louise Taylor

Ultimately, Aston Villa's defeat at Manchester United enabled Eddie Howe's team to stumble into Europe's showpiece competition on goal difference, but this reminder of their fallibility served as a warning that the St James' Park squad could do with some significant reinforcement.

Tellingly, as confirmation of the result from Old Trafford finally arrived and Newcastle's players broke into an almost obligatory bout of linking arms and bouncing on the spot, initially they looked almost sheepish.

By the time the chairman, Yasir al-Rumayyan, entered the pitch to offer congratulations, the mood had picked up a bit and rightly so. Given their often outstanding performances in the course of a Carabao Cup-winning season, the players fully deserve their fifth-place finish.

It would have felt rough justice had this masterclass in how to win away from David Moyes's gloriously obdurate Everton dashed that long-cherished dream, but, as Alcaraz headed a fine 65th-minute winner, Howe looked as troubled as at any time this season.