How Everton's win over Newcastle became a tale of two summer recruits

Hayden Hackney scores Everton’s second goal (Reuters)

A comfortable 3-1 victory over Newcastle secured Everton a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals against League Two side Fleetwood.
The Toffees succeeded despite the absence of Jack Grealish, dropped following a breach of club discipline after failing to attend training, as James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry provided all the crucial goals.
Everton capitalised on a defensive mistake to open the scoring in the 34th minute, with Garner driving a low finish into the far corner, his first goal since January.
Hackney, last season’s Championship player of the year making his third start for Everton since a summer switch from Middlesbrough, scored his first goal for the club shortly before half-time, tapping home from close range at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Barry made victory certain in the 69th minute, converting Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s delivery after finding space inside the penalty area. Although Dan Burn pulled a goal back with an 88th-minute header, it was far too late to prevent Newcastle’s defence of the trophy they lifted in 2025 from coming to an end.