Newcastle United have only once in the last 20 years have the Magpies had more points on the board at the 11-game stage than they do at the moment.
The 18-point tally beats every season since 2002/03 apart from Alan Pardew's superb effort of 25 points back in 2011/12. That was the year that Newcastle finished in fifth spot and qualified for Europe.
Incredibly, it took until the 22-game mark to reach 18 points last season but this term Eddie Howe and his players have done it half the time. And they have done it with the best defensive record in the division with just nine goals conceded and Nick Pope now level with Man City star Ederson on clean sheets.
READ MORE: Howe explains Joelinton substitution and intensity in build-up to trip to Spurs
Miguel Almiron lets Everton's £33million man know what he thought of awful challenge
Almiron had Everton in a spin last night as they struggled to cope with his darting runs and had no answer to his wonderful finish at the Leazes End. And so they used both fair and foul means to stop him.
It was Everton's £33million man from Lille who took it upon himself to slow Almiron down with a nasty challenge right at the back of the South American's leg. Almiron tried in vain to run it off but before he left the field he appeared to tell Amadou Onana exactly what he thought of it all.
Almiron was smiling as he left St James' Park last night following another man of the match display. Howe will be keeping his fingers crossed there is no bad reaction to the Onana challenge.
The sign of a team in truly great form
When the chips are down - and we know all about at Newcastle after years of pain - fielding players out of position has been a big talking point. But under Howe the Magpies don't have any issues on that score.
Howe converted Joelinton into a midfielder last season to the point that most people have forgot he is really a centre-forward who cost £40million. And now Howe has Dan Burn retaining his place against more orthodox left-backs.
Matt Targett can't get past him at the moment while Javier Manquillo and Paul Dummett have been left in the stands. Burn though is doing a fine job at left-back and actually enjoys playing there.
Even with Targett fully fit it would feel harsh to drop Burn on Sunday. Although after two games in a week already, fatigue may be setting in for some and changes are feasible in the capital.
Eddie Howe's style of play bring the best out of Almiron
Almiron could not initially get in Howe's team last year but he is now one of the first names on his pad. Almiron is top scorer with five strikes and looking the part.
Howe insists he has done nothing unusual to unlock Almiron's form. But the reality is he is playing in a 4-3-3 formation and in a team that plays on the front-foot. That's a massive different to the days when Newcastle parked the bus and Almiron had to drop back to win the ball.
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