LIVERPOOL: Everton swept into the League Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 win against Newcastle United on Thursday as they booked a clash against giant-killers Fleetwood.

David Moyes’s side took the lead through James Garner’s first-half goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Hayden Hackney doubled the lead with his first goal since his close-season move from Middlesbrough.

Everton striker Thierno Barry netted in the second half and Dan Burn’s reply for Newcastle came far too late to stop the Toffees ending their three-match winless run.

Chasing their first League Cup final appearance in 43 years, Everton will travel to fourth-tier minnows Fleetwood on Dec 14.

The ‘Cod Army’ caused one of the biggest shocks in League Cup history on Tuesday when they beat Premier League champions Arsenal in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw at Highbury.

Everton have never won the League Cup, losing their two final appearances in 1977 and 1984.

“I think the minute you use the word quarter-finals then you start to think, ‘this sounds good’,” Moyes said. “I think we’re pleased that we’ve been able to get to this stage of the competition. If we can keep it going great, obviously.”

Everton fans do not need reminding that it is 31 years since the club won the FA Cup in their most recent trophy triumph.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a noted Everton fan, is old enough to remember that success and he was cheering from the stands as Moyes’s men made light work of their last-16 tie.

Newcastle will have the chance for revenge when the sides meet again in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Monday.

Everton dropped a pre-match bombshell, saying Jack Grealish was unavailable for selection “due to a breach of club discipline”.

Grealish, beset by criticism of his behaviour off the pitch, was reported to have taken an unauthorised absence from training.

Moyes refused to give further details on Grealish’s absence against Newcastle, but backed the move to leave him out.

“I think the one thing about Everton and what they’ve got is they’ve got really good values behind it,” Moyes said.

“All the players stand up to the values, accept the values that we put out there, what we want from them on the pitch and off the pitch.

“And from that point of view I think the players have done a brilliant job tonight, they really did.”

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2026