Carabao Cup twist hands Newcastle a rare advantage over Everton
Newcastle United's Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Everton comes with an unusual perk: by the time the Magpies kick off on Thursday 29 October, they will already know who awaits them in the quarter-finals. The scheduling quirk, born from Liverpool and Chelsea playing 24 hours earlier, gives both Everton and Newcastle a strategic edge that could reshape their run in the competition.
The draw also delivered a surprise for travelling supporters. Everton allocated Newcastle 7,732 tickets, roughly 15% of the 52,000 capacity at the Hill Dickinson stadium. That is about 50% more than the Carabao Cup's minimum requirement of 10% for away fans, a decision that reportedly frustrated some Everton supporters but delighted the Newcastle faithful.
How does the Thursday night fixture create an advantage?
The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw takes place on Wednesday 28 October, immediately after Liverpool host Chelsea. Because Everton and Newcastle play the following night, both clubs will know their potential last eight opponent before a ball is kicked. It is the same scenario Manchester City and Norwich enjoyed in the previous round, when they learned they would face Brighton at home before playing their third round tie.
For Newcastle, the possibilities are intriguing. If they beat Everton, they could discover that a home tie against a League One side like Bradford or Peterborough stands between them and a fourth semi-final appearance in five seasons. Bradford and Peterborough, both third tier clubs, face each other in the last 16, meaning one of them will be in the quarter-final hat.
What does this mean for Newcastle's Carabao Cup ambitions?
The extra incentive is clear. Knowing that a favourable draw could be within reach adds weight to Thursday's trip to Merseyside. Newcastle have transformed their League Cup fortunes under recent management, and the current head coach Matthias Jaissle has continued that trajectory with two wins in the competition so far.
Eddie Howe's legacy at Newcastle is remarkable. In over 60 years of the competition, the club had reached the semi-final only once before his tenure, losing to Manchester City in the 1976 final after beating Tottenham. Howe then delivered a final, a quarter-final, a win, and a semi-final in four attempts. Jaissle has picked up where Howe left off, and another two wins would put Newcastle back in the semi-finals with fans dreaming of silverware.
What is the full Carabao Cup fourth round schedule?
- Tuesday 27 October: Bradford v Peterborough (7.45pm) Sky Sports+
- Tuesday 27 October: Fleetwood v Arsenal (8pm) Sky Sports Football
- Wednesday 28 October: Man City v Brighton (7.30pm) Sky Sports+
- Wednesday 28 October: Sunderland v Brentford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+
- Wednesday 28 October: Fulham v Palace (7.45pm) Sky Sports+
- Wednesday 28 October: Bournemouth v Villa (7.45pm) Sky Sports+
- Wednesday 28 October: Liverpool v Chelsea (8pm) Sky Sports Football and ITV
- Thursday 29 October: Everton v Newcastle United (7.45pm) Sky Sports+
When are the remaining Carabao Cup rounds?
- Round Four: w/c 26 October 2026
- Round Five: w/c 14 December 2026
- Semi-Final First Leg: w/c 11 January 2027
- Semi-Final Second Leg: w/c 1 February 2027
- Final: Sunday 21 March 2027
Newcastle have at least a coin flip's chance of getting past Everton, and with the luck of the draw, who knows what could be possible. The Thursday night advantage, combined with a generous away allocation, makes this tie feel different. For a club that has rediscovered its cup pedigree, the path to Wembley just got a little clearer.