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As Everton prepared to face Newcastle in the fourth round of the EFL Cup at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday, the stakes were high.

A quarter-final tie against League Two opposition in Fleetwood awaited the winner, and a fanbase starved of trophies began to look ahead - albeit, for some, through covered eyes.

Then, in the build-up to the match, it was revealed Jack Grealish had been dropped from the squad over what is understood to have been an unauthorised absence from training.

The unwanted headline threatened to derail preparations for the latest round of a competition that perhaps offers Everton's best chance of winning a trophy for the first time in 31 years.

Instead, the club's younger players came to the fore, led by the influential Hayden Hackney.

A £16.5m summer signing from Middlesbrough, the 24-year-old made light of his inexperience at the highest level against a strong Newcastle XI, assisting James Garner's opening goal before scoring Everton's second with a close-range volley.

Hackney, though, has needed to be patient early in his Everton career.

After starting the opening game of the season - a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace - his only subsequent start prior to Thursday's cup victory was in the third round of the same competition against Wolves.

The central midfielder is not known for being prolific - the fourth-round win was only the second time in his career he had scored and assisted in the same game - but he knitted together phases of possession and carried the ball with the confidence that led to him being named Championship player of the year last season.

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Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle says his side must "avoid individual mistakes" if they are to return to winning ways against Everton tonight.

The Magpies failed to capitalise on Sunday's win over Crystal Palace when they lost to the Toffees 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday night in the Carabao Cup.

It means Jaissle's side have won just two of their last six matches in all competitions, but they have the opportunity to exact instant revenge for their most recent defeat on Monday.

"First of all it is something where we need to work on, that we are not conceding so many goals," Jaissle said.

"We need to just avoid these individual mistakes especially where the opposition is not that dominant on the pitch. We need to improve for the next match on Monday."

Newcastle have conceded 13 goals in their last six games in all competitions, and Everton's opener on Thursday came from another mistake in Amar Dedic's poor clearance.

"It is something what I mentioned about being mature and more clinical and not giving almost a gift for the opposition to score, it feels the opposition is not giving us these gifts," explained Jaissle.

The Magpies' misfiring attack may also take another blow, with striker Will Osula a doubt after a crunching tackle from James Tarkowski appeared to leave him in discomfort.

"He twisted his ankle when he took the shot," Jaissle added.

"Right now, it's too early to say whether he will be fit for Monday.

"When it comes to scoring goals, we need to be more efficient out of so many occasions. How often we enter the box of Everton, there needs to be more than only one goal."

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Everton have lost their last two Premier League games, last losing three on the bounce in January 2025.

Under David Moyes, the Toffees haven’t lost three in a row since October 2011.

Everton

Everton manager David Moyes speaking to Sky Sports on what he can share about Jack Grealish's absence: "Nothing more than what I'm sure you've already heard so he's not in the team tonight."

On facing Newcastle: "I think everybody who has been in football and comes to St James' Park knows what the atmosphere is like here. We have to try and quell it the best way we can.

"Newcastle have got some really good players. It's a Premier League game, we know a lot about them, they know a lot about us. I don't think there's too many big surprises tonight."

Everton's age-old problem is how Thierno Barry is going to perform because they rely so heavily on how well he is playing up front.

To be fair to David Moyes's side, they carried more of a threat than I expected in their defeat by Arsenal and I can see them getting chances here, because Newcastle are so open.

The Magpies will absolutely go for it again here and I have a sneaky feeling they will leave the door ajar for Everton to pinch the points.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Phil Munns
BBC Radio Merseyside presenter

On Jack Grealish's absence...

We’re told that tonight, it is not a suspension from the club again like it was on Thursday.

This time, apparently it’s down to his fitness. We’re told he’s just not fit to play tonight or be involved at all.

It is really worrying because one game, a suspension, it's done, then you think OK, you move past it, you put him back on the bench for tonight for example, but the fact that it’s two games suggests that there might be something a bit more serious at play here.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport football reporter at St James' Park

Newcastle took 8,000 with them to Everton for last Thursday's Carabao Cup tie. Many were making their way home before the final whistle such was their team's poor showing on Merseyside.

"There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves and make excuses - we have to learn quickly, understand what went wrong and where we need to be better," writes Magpies boss Matthias Jaissle in the match programme.

"And then make sure we put it into action with a response on the pitch tonight. I have said many times we are going through a period of transition and we fully expect to experience ups and downs this season.

"What's vital after nights like Thursday is that we all stick together, in the same way that we all celebrate together and enjoy the moment after wins like Crystal Palace."

You can listen to the Monday Night Club at the top of this page or on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Mark Chapman is joined by Chris Sutton, Shay Given and Rory Smith to discuss Arsenal's long awaited win at Anfield, Aston Villa taking issue with Jamie Carragher, and a good dose of Serie A on terrestrial TV nostalgia with James Richardson.

John Anderson
Former Newcastle defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

I feel for young Steur. I think he deserves his opportunity.

I thought when he came on last week the game was over but he wants to get on the ball, he wants to get on, try and make things happen but yet again he has to wait his turn.

I have to say I’m surprised. I thought there would have been one or two other changes there but that’s the way it is.

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Just four days ago, Everton hosted Newcastle in the Carabao Cupand beat them 3-1 to set up a quarter-final againstLeague Two Fleetwood Town.

Now attention turns to a Premier League game between the same opponents at St James' Park.

Newcastle will be looking to make it back-to-back league wins after they beat Crystal Palace last weekend while Everton have lost their last two league games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport football reporter at St James' Park

Anthony Elanga returns to the Newcastle United starting XI - one of two changes from the side that started the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Everton last week.

Joelinton is also back in the XI while Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy drop to the bench.

Newcastle starting XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Joelinton, Elanga, Willock, Barnes, Osula.

Subs: Pope, Botman, Bamba, Wissa, Thiaw, Steur, Toure, Murphy, Ramsey.

Once again Jack Grealish is not involved at all for Everton after a breach of club discipline.

There is good news for the Toffees in the shape of Jarrad Branthwaite who is back in the starting XI after missing two games due to concussion protocols.

Harrison Armstrong is also back from the start.

Everton starting XI: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Armstrong, Garner, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Barry.

Subs: Travers, Maitland-Niles, Keane, Dibling, Johnson, Norgaard, Alcaraz, Hackney, Graham.

Jack Grealish is left out for Everton again.

Full team news to follow.

Hello and welcome to live text commentary of Monday's Premier League match between Newcastle and Everton.