Everton's EFL Cup quarter-final hopes were nearly derailed when Jack Grealish was dropped from the squad due to an unauthorised absence from training. However, the club's younger players stepped up, led by Hayden Hackney. The £16.5m summer signing from Middlesbrough assisted James Garner's opening goal and scored Everton's second with a close-range volley.
David Moyes praised Hackney's attacking play but noted areas needing improvement. The central midfielder, named Championship player of the year last season, knitted together phases of possession and carried the ball with confidence. While Moyes' hand was somewhat forced in giving Barry game time due to a lack of alternatives, there has been a broader indication he is more prepared to back the younger members of his squad this season.
The average age of Everton's starting XI in the Premier League has dropped by almost 18 months this season to 26 years and 216 days. The departure of veteran midfielder Idrissa Gueye has made a difference but first-team players aged 24 or under are playing a much higher proportion of Premier League minutes than in the previous campaign. Moyes used just 22 players in the Premier League last season.
He has already used 22 in this one. Even the youngest players in the squad appear to have gained more trust. In 2025-26, players aged 21 or under totalled 1,088 minutes, compared to 216 in the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing