Key Takeaways:
- Everton booked a League Cup quarter-final clash against Fleetwood after a 3-1 victory over Newcastle on Thursday
- James Garner, Hayden Hackney, and Thierno Barry all found the net for Everton, with Dan Burn scoring a late consolation for Newcastle
- Jack Grealish was excluded from the Everton squad prior to kick-off due to a disciplinary issue
Match Report
Everton marched into the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Thursday night with an emphatic 3-1 win over Newcastle at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Merseysiders, managed by David Moyes, took control through a James Garner strike in the opening period, before Hayden Hackney doubled the advantage just before the break with his first goal since joining from Middlesbrough during the close season.
Newcastle never managed to gain momentum despite Dan Burn’s late response, as Thierno Barry had already wrapped up the contest with Everton’s third midway through the second half. Burn’s goal set off a late scuffle among the players but did little to impact the result, ending Everton’s sequence of three matches without victory.
Job done. ✅ 🔵
We’ll face @ftfc in the last eight of the @Carabao_Cup. https://t.co/gymZs5UzMM
— Everton (@Everton) October 29, 2026
Everton Eye Rare Cup Glory
This win sees Everton progress to their first League Cup quarter-final since 1984, where they are set to travel for a date with giant-killing fourth-tier side Fleetwood in the week commencing 14 December. Fleetwood, dubbed the ‘Cod Army,’ produced a seismic upset earlier in the week by eliminating Arsenal on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Highbury.
Everton, who have lost both their previous League Cup finals in 1977 and 1984, continue to seek a maiden triumph in this competition. Their last major silverware came with the FA Cup 31 years ago, an anniversary not lost on their faithful supporters, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham who watched from the stands last night.
Team News and Discipline Update
There was intrigue before kick-off as Everton confirmed Jack Grealish was unavailable “due to a breach of club discipline,” following reported unauthorised absence from training by the on-loan Manchester City winger. Despite Grealish’s off-field controversy, Moyes’s men were unfazed on the pitch.
Detailed Match Analysis
Newcastle looked threatening early, twice testing Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with efforts from Joe Willock and Fabian Schar. However, Garner provided the breakthrough in the 34th minute, guiding Hackney’s set-up just inside the area beyond Lukas Hornicek for his first goal since January.
On the cusp of half-time, Everton broke swiftly and Barry’s delivery was met by Hackney, who volleyed home Everton’s second. Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle responded at the break, bringing on Joelinton, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa. Wissa promptly squandered a promising chance after latching onto Willock’s pass, heading straight at Pickford instead of capitalising.
That miss proved costly, as Everton extended their lead in the 69th minute: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall crossed for Thierno Barry, who finished from close range for his seventh goal of the season. Newcastle’s consolation came through Burn heading home Willock’s cross in the 88th minute, after which tempers flared, but Everton’s progression was never truly threatened.
Statistical Overview
| Everton Scorers | Minute |
|---|---|
| James Garner | 34′ |
| Hayden Hackney | 45′ |
| Thierno Barry | 69′ |
| Newcastle Scorer | Minute |
| Dan Burn | 88′ |
What Comes Next?
Everton’s next EFL Cup test will be against Fleetwood, who engineered one of the competition’s greatest shocks by defeating Arsenal in a penalty shoot-out. Meanwhile, Newcastle will have an opportunity to rectify their defeat when the two sides face each other again at St James’ Park in the Premier League on Monday.
