Preston North End is set to take on Everton in the first round of the League Cup at Deepdale on August 27, 2026. This match comes after Everton's impressive 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener, which has boosted their confidence heading into this domestic cup competition.

Under the management of David Moyes, Everton has shown strong form, remaining unbeaten in their last 12 matches. They will look to carry this momentum into the League Cup, aiming for a successful run in the tournament. In contrast, Preston North End has struggled recently, returning home after a narrow victory on penalties against Huddersfield in the previous round of the League Cup. They have faced two consecutive defeats in the Championship, raising concerns about their current form.

Historically, the two teams have met only once in an official match since 2004, where Everton secured a 2-0 victory. The last time Preston defeated Everton was back in 1961. This adds pressure on Preston as they look to reverse their fortunes against a superior opponent.

In terms of squad updates, Preston North End has no significant injuries to report, while Everton may be missing Christian Norgaard and Tim Iroegbunam due to injury concerns, although this is not expected to significantly impact their lineup.

The expected formations for the match are as follows:

• Preston North End (4-2-3-1): Iversen; Clarke, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; McCann, Leroy; Devine, Lang, Burgzorg; Erabi.
• Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Hackney; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry.

Analysis suggests that Everton is likely to score in the first half, having done so in three of their last four encounters. Additionally, both teams have shown a tendency to concede goals, making a high-scoring match probable. Given the current form and historical performance, Everton is favored to win this match, with a predicted score of Preston North End 1 - 3 Everton.

This match will be crucial for both teams, with Everton looking to assert their dominance and Preston hoping to turn their season around.