This was my first visit to Everton’s new stadium, the sizeable away allocation for this League Cup fourth round tie affording me the opportunity to travel to Liverpool with the lad and the NUSC, stopping off pre-match at Rossett Park, home of Marine FC for pints and curry, which was spot on.

Granted, the Hill Dickinson has a bleak outlook given its location down on the docks, but the sight lines inside the stadium are excellent. What isn’t so good are the toilet facilities, queuing forever to take position at one of only six urinals!

I noticed that ‘Nil Satus Nisi Optimum’ is emblazoned on the tunnel wall, which loosely translated means United’s second visit to this dockyard arena was to end in tears.

And so it proved, United were toothless in attack and brittle at the back, Matthias Jaissle’s side slumping to another chastening defeat.

Of course, this was all the more frustrating given the carrot was an away trip to Fleetwood in the next round, which despite Arsenal’s transgression there earlier in the week meant a passage to a fourth League Cup Semi Final in five years seemed entirely within reach, if only United could first overcome Everton.

Despite having more possession, more expected goals, more shots, both on and off target, as well as more touches in the opposition box, United conspired to make a mess of things.

Before Everton opened their account, Newcastle had a string of decent chances to draw first blood.

Barnes saw his header from a lovely Gonzalez cross saved by Pickford, shortly after which, Mykolenko blocked a Murphy effort. Then Willock and Schar, the latter’s strike from distance, also forcing saves from the Everton keeper before United’s best chance fell to Osula, but when a goal looked nailed on, Tarkowski got across the Dane to make a last ditch block.

Then it began to unravel.

Dedic dithered out on the right and was dispossessed by George, the ball making its way to Hackney who in turn found Garner to curl the ball past Hornicek.

That was very much against the run of play, yet it still had a feeling of inevitability about it.

On the stroke of half-time, Everton doubled their money, Hackney converting Barry’s cross after the referee had said ‘nothing doing’ as Barnes appealed in vain for a penalty.

The interval arrived and Matthias Jaissle had presumably seen enough, his triple substitution of Joelinton, Wissa and Elanga replacing Ramsey, Osula and Barnes and yes, whilst there was more endeavour from United after the restart, Wissa, Burn and Elanga were all guilty of spurning half chances.

It did feel like a goal was coming, that it went the way of the hosts killed the tie, Everton moving with purpose on the counter and exploiting some sloppy play from the visitors, Barry on the end of a Dewsbury-Hall cross to make it 3-0.

That was that, there being no way back for United, Burn’s goal in the 88th minute no more than a consolation on a bitterly disappointing evening when having the lion’s share of possession counted for nothing; United couldn’t do much with it whilst their hosts were ruthlessly efficient in registering three goals from the five shots they managed to get on target.

Everton 3 Newcastle 1 – Thursday 29 October 2026 7.45pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Burn 88

Everton:

Garner 34, Hackney 45, Barry 69

Possession was Newcastle 57% Everton 43%

Total shots were Newcastle 28 Everton 11

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 Everton 5

Corners were Newcastle 10 Everton 4

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 37 Everton 17

Newcastle team v Everton:

Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez (Steur 81), Willock, Ramsey (Joelinton 46), Barnes (Elanga 46), Murphy (Toure 67), Osula (Wissa 46)

Unused subs:

Pope, Botman, Bamba, Thiaw