Everton vs Newcastle United — 29 October 2026

Everton and Newcastle United meet in the EFL Cup ahead of another encounter in the Premier League. David Moyes' team are looking to recover from consecutive defeats against Chelsea and Arsenal, while Newcastle have recently ended their losing run with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Both clubs have reasons to take the competition seriously, although their attacking performances and squad availability present different challenges ahead of the cup tie.

Everton's Attacking Struggles and Strong Home Record

Everton made an encouraging start to the season, going unbeaten in seven consecutive competitive matches. That run included convincing progress through the opening rounds of the EFL Cup, with victories over Preston North End (4-0) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0).

However, recent meetings with stronger Premier League opponents have exposed some limitations. Moyes' team suffered consecutive 2-0 defeats, first at home to Chelsea and then away to Arsenal. Those results highlighted a broader attacking problem: Everton have scored just eight goals in their opening eight Premier League matches.

Creating consistent opportunities remains difficult, particularly against opponents capable of controlling possession and restricting space in advanced areas. Everton have also struggled to respond once stronger teams establish an advantage.

Their home performances provide a more encouraging picture. Everton have collected seven points from four Premier League fixtures at their own stadium. Across five competitive home matches this season, they have recorded three victories without conceding and suffered just one defeat.

Defensive organization has generally been more reliable than attacking production. Seven of Everton's first ten competitive matches have featured no more than two combined goals, reflecting the relatively controlled nature of many of their games.

Moyes is unlikely to make extensive changes for the Newcastle fixture, particularly given Everton's stated ambition to compete for the EFL Cup trophy. Nevertheless, several selection decisions remain uncertain.

Jack Grealish missed the trip to Arsenal through illness, while Jarrad Branthwaite has been following concussion protocols. Vitaliy Mykolenko also suffered an injury during the match in London, leaving all three players doubtful.

Christian Nørgaard is gradually returning to competitive action. He appeared as a substitute against Chelsea and was included in the squad for the Arsenal fixture, but Moyes has indicated that the midfielder is unlikely to regain full fitness before the November international break.

These circumstances could provide additional playing time for Tyler Dibling, Hayden Hackney, and Carlos Alcaraz. Their involvement would allow Moyes to make selective changes without substantially altering his usual approach.

Newcastle's Results Outperform Their Underlying Numbers

Newcastle ended a difficult sequence of results with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace. The win followed defeats against Coventry City (4-1) and Aston Villa (1-0), providing some relief for Matthias Jaissle's team.

However, the performance against Palace was less convincing than the final score suggested. Newcastle generated just 0.98 expected goals (xG), compared with 1.69 for their opponents. The visitors created better opportunities overall despite failing to score.

That difference between results and performances has been a recurring feature of Newcastle's season. Across eight Premier League rounds, they have recorded a higher xG total than their opponents only once.

The broader statistics reinforce the same concern. Newcastle have collected 11 league points despite accumulating just 7.56 expected points (xPts). They have also scored 12 goals from 9.21 xG, suggesting that their finishing has been more effective than the quality of their opportunities would normally indicate.

Newcastle's away performances have been particularly inconsistent. They suffered 4-1 defeats against both Leeds United and Coventry, while their previous EFL Cup fixture against Millwall required a late intervention to secure progress.

Jaissle made only three changes to his starting lineup against Millwall, demonstrating his willingness to use established players in the competition. Newcastle eventually won 1-0 through an 81st-minute goal from Joe Willock.

The manager is expected to take a similarly selective approach to rotation against Everton, particularly as the club looks to build on its recent victory over Crystal Palace.

Newcastle's injury situation has improved. Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey returned to the matchday squad against Palace, although Jaissle intends to reintroduce them gradually following extended absences.

Fernández-Pardo could also return after illness, while Lewis Miley is recovering from discomfort in a gluteal muscle. Both remain uncertain for the cup fixture. Jahen and Tino Livramento are the only players currently ruled out.

Newcastle's recent attacking performances have produced relatively few clear opportunities. Their previous cup match ended 1-0, while their last two Premier League fixtures finished 1-0 against Aston Villa and 2-0 against Crystal Palace. Improving chance creation remains an important issue despite their latest victory.

Referee: Farai Hallam

Farai Hallam recorded the lowest yellow-card average among Premier League referees last season, although he officiated only five top-flight matches. He averaged 2.6 yellow cards and 21.8 fouls per game.

His disciplinary approach has been stricter at the beginning of the current campaign. Across all competitions, Hallam has averaged approximately 3.67 yellow cards and 22.44 fouls per match.

Key Factors

Both teams enter the cup tie with questions surrounding their attacking effectiveness. Everton have struggled to turn possession into goals, while Newcastle's underlying statistics indicate that they have frequently created fewer and lower-quality chances than their opponents.

Everton's home defensive record could make it difficult for Newcastle to establish sustained attacking pressure. The visitors, meanwhile, will need to improve their chance creation rather than rely on the finishing efficiency that has helped them collect points despite inconsistent performances.

Squad management will also matter, with both managers expected to make limited changes. The ability to maintain defensive organization while introducing returning or less frequently used players could influence the balance of the match.