Everton host Newcastle United in Carabao Cup fourth round clash

Everton host Newcastle United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday, October 29, 2026, for a high-stakes Carabao Cup fourth-round clash that serves as the first of two meetings between the sides in five days. While Newcastle arrives on the back of a 2-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, David Moyes’ Everton side is struggling to find form after successive 2-0 defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal, ToffeeWeb reported.

Moyes Faces Selection Crisis With Paper-Thin Squad

The tactical whiteboard for David Moyes is looking increasingly crowded with absences. According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton currently has just 15 fit and available senior outfield players, leaving the manager with severe dilemmas in the defensive line. Jarrad Branthwaite remains sidelined due to concussion protocols, and Jack Grealish has missed recent action through illness. Adding to the crisis, Vitalii Mykolenko sustained a second-half knock during the loss at Arsenal, leaving his availability for Thursday in doubt.

The depth chart is so depleted that the Liverpool Echo suggests midfielders James Garner and Merlin Rohl may be forced to deputise at full-back again, while Jake O’Brien could shift from the center to the right. Captain James Tarkowski has urged his teammates to avoid a defeatist mentality. Speaking after the Arsenal loss, Tarkowski demanded the squad “don’t feel sorry for ourselves,” noting that the small squad size means those available will see significant minutes.

“We’ve got to demand that we don’t feel sorry for ourselves,” the Toffees skipper said. “The squad is small, so it’s only us who can go out on that pitch and play.”

Despite the struggle in league play—where Everton has managed only two wins in 15 games—the EFL Cup represents a viable path to silverware. The Toffees reached this stage following a 4-0 win over Preston and a narrow victory against Wolves. Tyler Dibling, who earned man of the match honors against Wolves, is expected to be a primary offensive threat alongside Thierno Barry.

Jaissle Signals “All In” Approach for Magpies

Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle is taking a completely different approach to squad rotation. Rather than using the cup to blood reserves, Jaissle told reporters that he intends to field the “best possible line-up,” citing the club’s strong history in the competition. The Magpies are hunting for a fifth consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals, having won their last seven fourth-round ties since the 2013-14 season.

The Magpies enter the match with significant momentum, having won 18 EFL Cup ties since 2022-23 and lifting the trophy in 2025. Jaissle is also managing a returning core of talent; Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey both featured as substitutes against Crystal Palace after seven weeks on the sidelines. While Jaissle remained tight-lipped on whether they will start, he confirmed their physicality is improving daily.

However, Newcastle is not without its own casualties. Sports Mole reports that Ewen Jaouen is sidelined with a serious hamstring injury and is not expected back until December 12. Tino Livramento remains out with a knee injury of unknown duration, and forward Fernandez-Pardo is a major doubt due to ongoing illness.

Win Would Provide Psychological Reset for David Moyes

From a front-office perspective, this match is a critical litmus test for David Moyes’ tenure. His EFL Cup record is underwhelming, having been eliminated from seven of his last 10 ties against Premier League opposition. The contrast in organizational stability is stark: while Newcastle operates with a high-performance ceiling and a deep rotation policy, Everton is battling a periodization nightmare, struggling to maintain fitness across a hectic fixture run before the international break.

If Everton can secure a win, it would provide a psychological reset before they travel to St James’ Park for a Premier League clash on Monday.

Everton and Newcastle Expected Lineups for Thursday

Based on current availability and reporting from ToffeeWeb and the Liverpool Echo, the expected setups are as follows:

Match Details:
Kick-off: 7:45pm BST, Thursday 29th October
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Broadcast: Sky Sports+

The result on Thursday comes before the two sides meet again on Monday. For Moyes, it is a chance to improve his record in the competition; for Jaissle, it is a chance to reach the quarter-finals for a fifth successive campaign.

Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.

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