Newcastle United were not at their best, but the win over Crystal Palace was certainly a step in the right direction.
It is now two wins on the bounce, as Newcastle United beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at St James’ Park to climb into the top half of the Premier League table.
The Magpies are finally looking up again, and will be boosted by the fact they kept a clean sheet on Sunday. Incredibly, it was their first since beating Athletic Club 2-0 in the Champions League on 5th November.
Lewis Miley was Newcastle’s best player against Palace according to Alan Shearer, shining at right-back once again. However, he was not the only Newcastle United defender who impressed the Toon legend.
Who was your MOTM against Crystal Palace?!
THREE CRUCIAL POINTS 😍
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
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Alan Shearer hails Malick Thiaw’s Newcastle United form
Alan Shearer also liked what he saw from Malick Thiaw, raving about the German defender on the latest episode of the Rest Is Football podcast.
Thiaw has been consistently outstanding since his £34million arrival from AC Milan, and Shearer is excited to see him go head-to-head with in-form Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Wednesday night.
“Newcastle looked a bit more solid against Crystal Palace,” he said.
“Malick Thiaw has been a really good buy for Newcastle. He’s had a really good season.
“Even when Newcastle weren’t playing well, he was one of the better players. So that’ll be a good battle, those two [Thiaw vs Calvert-Lewin].”
Photo by George Wood/Getty ImagesDominic Calvert-Lewin is shining after Newcastle United interest
Thiaw kept Jean-Philippe Mateta quiet at St James’ Park on Sunday, producing another commanding performance at centre-back in the black and white of Newcastle United.
Next up for Thiaw is a battle against another striker with eight Premier League goals this season, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin prepares to lead the line for Leeds.
Where does Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick at Leeds rank among your favourite goals of the PIF era?
It feels like this is the one that started it all…
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The 28-year-old has bounced back since swapping Everton for Leeds, and there have even been shouts for him to go to the 2026 World Cup with England. Calvert-Lewin is back to his best, with his upturn in fortunes coming after Newcastle looked to sign him in the summer.
Newcastle held talks with Calvert-Lewin over a move to the North East, but he ended up at Elland Road instead. That has proven to be a great career move, and he will be keen to show the Magpies what they are missing on Wednesday.
Trying to stop him will be Malick Thiaw, who continues to prove why he is easily the best signing that Newcastle United made in 2025.
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