STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Wed: Preston v Everton

It’s 30 years since Everton last got their hands on silverware and their long-suffering fans are desperate for a big cup run, having failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of either the FA Cup or League Cup since 2016, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

The Toffees kick off their 2025-26 EFL Cup campaign (it’s 25/1 that it ends in glory at Wembley in March) with a trip to Deepdale – where the managerial career of Blues boss David Moyes began way back in 1998.

The visitors, who got their Premier League season off to a winning start against Crystal Palace at the weekend, are just 1/2 to win this tie in 90 minutes and 2/7 to progress to the third round.

Preston v Everton
EFL Cup (Second Round) – Deepdale
20:00 Sky Sports

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
OCT 2004 LEAGUE CUP Everton 2-0 Preston
JAN 2000 FA CUP Everton 2-0 Preston

PRESTON
AUG 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP Preston 1-3 Wolves
AUG 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP Bolton 2-1 Preston
AUG 2026 EFL CUP Preston 1-1 Huddersfield (Preston win on penalties)
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Stockport 1-0 Preston
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Bradford 3-2 Preston

EVERTON
AUG 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Everton 1-1 Lille
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Newcastle 1-3 Everton
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Stuttgart 3-1 Everton
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Hamburg 1-2 Everton

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Out-of-form Preston have pretty much continued where they left off last year – losing games. The Lilywhites ended last season with three defeats out of four and they haven’t picked up any points from their opening two Championship games this time around.

Boss Paul Heckingbottom finds himself under pressure after the team were outclassed in the 3-1 loss to Wolves at the weekend and Preston haven’t won a competitive game at Deepdale since the 20th March.

Goals are a major issue for North End; their 55-goal haul last season was one of the lowest totals of any team that avoided relegation and their 10-goal top scorer from last term, Lewis Bobbin, has gone to Southampton.

Whilst both teams are expected to make changes, Everton’s far superior squad depth really should ensure they come out on top against a side that might just have their eye on the weekend trip to Charlton, given their already-urgent need for Championship points.

So, with David Moyes fully aware of the fans ambitions for a good cup run, expect Everton to put out a strong enough side to get the job done. The 1/2 about the Premier League side winning this game isn’t massively appealing, but the 7/4 about them doing so without conceding certainly is.

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