Jack Grealish sits out Carabao Cup match due to club discipline breach

UPDATE - follow-up to Everton v Newcastle: Carabao Cup fourth round – live: Jack Grealish misses Everton's last-16 Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United because of a breach of club discipline, stemming from an unauthorised absence from training.

Team Changes

Everton make two changes to their starting lineup following their recent 2-0 defeat against Arsenal, bringing in Hayden Hackney and Tyler Dibling to replace Brennan Johnson and Harrison Armstrong. Jarrad Branthwaite remains unavailable due to concussion protocols. Meanwhile, Newcastle United make one change after their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Jacob Ramsey starting in place of Joelinton.

Cup Context

The winner of tonight's match will travel to Fleetwood Town for a quarter-final fixture scheduled for the week starting 14 December 2026. There is no VAR in use for the game, and if the score remains level after normal time and stoppages, the match goes straight to a penalty shootout without extra time.

Context

Domestic cup competitions in English football often provide a path for clubs seeking their first major silverware in decades. Both Everton and Newcastle carry long histories in English football, adding extra weight to every round of the League Cup campaign.