Everton ease past Newcastle to set up Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Fleetwood

Everton defeated Newcastle United 3-1 on Thursday evening to secure a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. The match took place at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, allowing the Toffees to advance despite the notable absence of star winger Jack Grealish. Goals from James Garner, Hayden Hackney, and Thierno Barry gave Everton a comfortable victory over the Magpies. This result sets up a quarter-final tie against League Two side Fleetwood Town, a fixture that has generated significant interest following Fleetwood’s recent shock defeat of Arsenal. The absence of Grealish dominated pre-match discussions. Everton stated that the player was unavailable for selection due to a breach of club discipline. Reports indicated that the infraction involved an unauthorized absence from training sessions. Manager David Moyes removed the on-loan Manchester City winger from the squad list. Club announcements also noted that defender Jarrad Branthwaite missed his second consecutive match due to concussion protocols. Grealish had been a regular starter in previous league matches but sat out the weekend loss to Arsenal due to illness. He is on loan from Manchester City, who signed him from Aston Villa in 2021 for a record fee of 117 million euros. Expectations suggest he may face financial penalties alongside the suspension. Despite the high-profile omission, Everton controlled large portions of the game. Newcastle started aggressively, with Harvey Barnes testing goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with an early header. Pickford also denied efforts from Joe Willock and Fabian Schar. Vitalii Mykolenko blocked a strike from Jacob Ramsey. However, Everton found their rhythm in the 34th minute. After Tyrique George pressured Amar Dedic into a poor clearance, the ball fell to Hackney, who passed to Garner. Garner fired low into the far corner for his first goal since January. Just before halftime, Hackney added to the lead during a swift counter-attack. Following a foul on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the referee allowed play to continue. Barry crossed from the left, and Hackney stroked the ball into the net. It was Hackney’s first goal for Everton since joining from Middlesbrough in the summer transfer window. The midfielder, named Championship Player of the Year last season, had made only his third start for the club. In the second half, Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle introduced Anthony Elanga, Joelinton, and Yoane Wissa. Wissa nearly broke through on goal nine minutes after the restart, but Pickford claimed a weak header. Everton extended their lead in the 69th minute. Barry found space inside the box from a Dewsbury-Hall cross and picked his spot to make it 3-0. It marked Barry’s seventh goal in 11 appearances this season. Dan Burn headed in a consolation goal for Newcastle in the 88th minute, but it arrived too late to alter the outcome. The victory ends a three-match winless run for Everton. They remain clear favorites to reach the semi-finals of a competition they have never won. The club lost its previous two finals in 1977 and 1984. Their most recent major trophy remains the FA Cup, lifted 31 years ago in 1995. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a known Everton supporter, watched the match from the stands. The upcoming quarter-final opponent, Fleetwood Town, recently caused a major upset. On Tuesday, the League Two side drew 1-1 with Premier League champions Arsenal at Highbury before winning the penalty shootout. This performance demonstrated that lower-league teams can compete effectively in the competition. Everton will travel to face Fleetwood in the week commencing December 14. Newcastle will look to redeem themselves in the Premier League when the two teams meet again at St James’ Park on Monday night. The Magpies had 8,000 traveling supporters present for the cup tie. Although they showed promise in the opening exchanges, they struggled to create sustained pressure against the Everton defense. The defeat concludes their hopes of reclaiming the trophy they lifted in 2025. Referee Farai Hallam managed the match, playing advantage in key moments that benefited Everton. One such instance occurred when Dewsbury-Hall was fouled by Ramsey, leading directly to Hackney’s goal. Earlier, a challenge by Dewsbury-Hall on Barnes resulted in protests from the Newcastle bench, but no penalty was awarded. The match highlighted Everton’s ability to capitalize on defensive errors, particularly in the transition phase. Garner’s goal stemmed from a scramble in the box, while Hackney’s finish utilized speed and positioning. The result cements Everton’s position in the competition as they aim for their first silverware in over three decades. The managerial approach focused on quick transitions and exploiting spaces left by Newcastle’s forward pressing. While Newcastle created chances through Barnes and Willock, they lacked the finishing touch required to overturn the deficit. The focus now shifts to the domestic league schedule and the preparation for the trip to Fleetwood. The presence of senior players like Pickford and the tactical adjustments by Moyes proved sufficient to navigate around the Grealish situation. The club’s official channels maintained a professional tone regarding the disciplinary issue, focusing on the team’s collective effort on the pitch.