Breaking News: Moyes selects Grealish for cup tie
Everton have confirmed their starting line-up for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Jack Grealish named in the attack. The 16 September 2026 fixture gives David Moyes the chance to rotate his squad while still fielding a team capable of seeing off Premier League opposition.
Grealish’s inclusion is the headline talking point. Since his return to Everton, he has become a fixture in Moyes’ attacking plans, and a cup start offers another chance to build match sharpness. Jordan Pickford continues in goal, with the manager otherwise sticking to a settled defensive base in front of him.
Wolves have named a strong side of their own for the trip to Merseyside, giving this tie the feel of a genuine contest rather than a routine cup formality.
Everton XI and bench breakdown at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Jordan Pickford
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Jake O’Brien
Michael Keane
Vitaliy Mykolenko
James Garner
Hayden Hackney
Tyler Dibling
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Jack Grealish
Thierno Barry
Everton’s official team sheet lists only the starting eleven, so no substitutes can be confirmed for this preview. Supporters will find out who joins the bench once the matchday squad is read out at the stadium.
Moyes’ selection blends experience with opportunity. Pickford starts behind a back four of Maitland-Niles, O’Brien, Keane and Mykolenko, giving the side a familiar defensive spine even with attacking changes further forward. Mykolenko’s inclusion is notable given Mykolenko’s recent performances, and a cup outing against a Wolves side missing several regular top-flight starters should offer him a chance to rebuild confidence in a lower-pressure setting.
James Garner anchors the midfield alongside Hayden Hackney and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a trio that gives Everton control and energy in the centre of the pitch. That platform should let Grealish and Tyler Dibling operate with license to drift inside from wide areas, combining close to Thierno Barry rather than staying fixed to the touchline. Barry’s movement as the central striker will be key to stretching a Wolves defence set up to contain rather than press high.
The shape looks close to a 4-3-3 in possession, with Garner sitting slightly deeper to shield the back four when Wolves break forward. Out of possession, Everton are likely to ask Grealish and Dibling to track back and support their full-backs, a test of the discipline Moyes has demanded from his forward players all season. Cup football against unfamiliar opponents can expose gaps in structure, so how quickly this front three settles into its pressing triggers will shape the tempo of the contest.
Wolverhampton Wanderers XI and bench breakdown
João Virgínia
Jackson Tchatchoua
Toti
Ladislav Krejci
Ghislain Konan
Boubacar Traoré
Tommy Doyle
Sean Neave
Jordan James
Tawanda Chirewa
Raúl Jiménez
As with Everton, Wolves’ official release names only their starting eleven, so specific substitutes cannot be confirmed ahead of kick-off.
There is an obvious subplot in goal, where João Virgínia lines up against his former club. His route through Everton’s academy before moving on makes him one of several players to represent both clubs, and his distribution from the back will be an early test of how aggressively Everton’s front line presses from set positions.
In front of him, Wolves set up with a back four of Tchatchoua, Toti, Krejci and Konan, a group with enough experience to make life difficult for Barry and Grealish in the final third. Boubacar Traoré and Tommy Doyle look tasked with controlling central midfield, while Sean Neave and Jordan James offer runners beyond the ball when Wolves transition forward quickly.
Tawanda Chirewa’s pace on the flank could stretch Everton’s full-backs, particularly if Maitland-Niles or Mykolenko are drawn infield to support the midfield. The main threat, though, remains Raúl Jiménez leading the line. His hold-up play and movement in the penalty area have long troubled Premier League defences, and Everton’s centre-backs will need to track his runs closely rather than simply engaging with the ball at his feet. Expect Wolves to look to get the ball forward to Jiménez early and use his physicality to win fouls and set-piece opportunities in dangerous areas.
With both managers naming competitive sides, this looks set to be a tightly contested Carabao Cup tie rather than a night of wholesale changes.
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