Everton welcome Newcastle United to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday, October 29, for an all-Premier League fourth-round tie in the English League Cup, with both sides seeking a place in the quarter-finals.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 p.m. UK time. It is also the first of two meetings between the clubs in less than a week, with the teams due to face each other again in the Premier League on Monday.
Newcastle Target Another Quarter-Final
Newcastle enter the tie aiming to reach the League Cup quarter-finals for the fifth consecutive season, continuing a strong recent record in the competition.
According to Opta Analyst, Newcastle have won 18 League Cup ties since the 2022-23 season, six more than any other club over that period. The team have also won each of their last seven fourth-round ties in the competition.
That record gives Newcastle a strong recent cup pedigree, although knockout matches leave little room for error. A single result will determine which side advances, regardless of their previous performances in the competition.
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle said he would field his strongest available side despite the looming league meeting. “Due to the history for the club in that competition, I have the same approach – to play with the best possible line-up,” he said “We will also be aligned with that and go all in.”
Everton Look to Respond After Consecutive Defeats
Everton will be looking to regain momentum after losing their last two Premier League matches, 2-0 against Chelsea and Arsenal.
The cup tie gives the team an opportunity to respond in front of their home supporters, although Newcastle’s recent record in the competition presents a difficult challenge.
Everton’s attacking options are limited, with Thierno Barry their only senior centre-forward after a deadline-day move for a striker collapsed. Barry has scored six goals in 10 appearances this season, though Everton have managed just eight league goals in total.
Jarrad Branthwaite is out with concussion, while Jack Grealish and Vitaliy Mykolenko are doubts. Michael Keane and Ainsley Maitland-Niles could return in defence, with Tyler Dibling pushing for a start after impressing in the previous round
A Place in the Last Eight at Stake
The fourth-round match is a straight knockout contest, meaning the winner will progress to the quarter-finals while the losing side will be eliminated from this season’s competition.
The winner will face a quarter-final trip to Fleetwood Town, the fourth-tier side that eliminated Arsenal on penalties on Tuesday.
Everton’s home advantage and Newcastle’s recent cup consistency provide two contrasting factors ahead of kick-off. However, neither guarantees progression, and the result will depend on how the teams perform on the night.
