Everton vs Newcastle United: Carabao Cup Fourth-Round Team News, Lineups and Match Details
Everton and Newcastle United meet on Thursday evening in the Carabao Cup fourth round, with both clubs eager to add silverware to otherwise barren recent seasons. Newcastle arrive as the reigning League Cup champions after their 2025 victory, while Everton are searching for their first trophy since 1995, a drought that has stretched for more than three decades. Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT.
Team News: Jack Grealish Dropped as Everton Ring Two Changes
The most significant selection story surrounds Everton’s Jack Grealish, who has been left out of the squad entirely “due to a breach of Club discipline,” reportedly stemming from an unauthorised absence from training. Everton also make two changes to the XI beaten 2-0 by Arsenal at the weekend. Hayden Hackney and Tyler Dibling come in, while Brennan Johnson and Harrison Armstrong drop to the bench. Jarrad Branthwaite is unavailable because of concussion protocols.
Newcastle United Make One Change to Starting XI
Newcastle make a single alteration to the side that claimed a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace last weekend. Jacob Ramsey takes Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up, with Joelinton starting among the substitutes.
Confirmed Starting Lineups and Substitutes
Everton Starting XI
| Everton |
|---|
| Pickford, Rohl, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Hackney, Garner, Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Barry. |
| Substitutes: Travers, King, Maitland-Niles, Keane, Johnson, Norgaard, Alcaraz, Armstrong, Graham. |
Newcastle United Starting XI
| Newcastle United |
|---|
| Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Ramsey, Murphy, Willock, Barnes, Osula. |
| Substitutes: Pope, Botman, Joelinton, Bamba, Wissa, Thiaw, Steur, Toure, Elanga. |
Referee: Farai Hallam.
Competition reminders. There is no VAR in operation for this tie. Should the match be level after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, there will be no extra time — instead, the match moves straight to a penalty shootout. The winner of tonight’s tie will travel to Fleetwood Town for a quarter-final to be played in the week commencing 14 December 2026.
Trophy Context: Everton’s Long Wait vs Newcastle’s Recent Revival
Only three clubs still in this season’s competition have previously won the League Cup. Liverpool and Manchester City account for 19 wins between them, while Newcastle have one to their name. Everton are among the clubs to have reached the final — losing in 1977 and 1984 — without adding to their honours since 1995. Sunderland (1985 and 2014) and Bradford City (2013) are the other finalists without a recent triumph, while Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Fleetwood Town have yet to contest a showpiece.
For Everton, this represents the first stirring of a genuine cup run in years. For Newcastle, it offers the chance to turn a 56-year wait ended in 2025 into a second trophy in three seasons. Only one of these grand old clubs can keep its campaign going past 10pm.
Match Details: Kick-Off Time and What Is at Stake
Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT. The winner advances to a quarter-final at Fleetwood Town in mid-December, opening a pathway toward Wembley for whichever side progresses. With no VAR, no extra time and penalties looming if the scores are level after 90 minutes, Thursday’s contest offers a direct and high-stakes route to the latter stages of the competition.
Everton will look to exploit home advantage and end a 31-year trophy drought, while Newcastle will attempt to demonstrate that their 2025 League Cup success was the start of something lasting rather than a one-off.
Sports, News, Carabao Cup, Everton, Newcastle United, English Football, League Cup, Fleetwood Town, Jack Grealish
