Jack Grealish was left out of Everton's squad for Thursday night's Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United after a breach of club discipline, Everton confirmed in an official statement on their social channels before kick-off. The 31-year-old winger, back at Everton on loan from Manchester City for a second season, was not involved at all as David Moyes' side won 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium to reach the quarter-finals — and whether he returns for Monday's Premier League rematch between the same two clubs is, for now, unconfirmed.
Everton announced the news in a team-news post on Thursday, in the same update that confirmed Jarrad Branthwaite would miss a second successive game under concussion protocols. On Grealish, the club's wording was short and final: he was "unavailable for selection due to a breach of Club discipline". The club has given no further detail about what the breach involved, and no length for any sanction has been stated.
That restraint is the whole story so far. Reports in England have suggested the breach relates to an unauthorised absence from training earlier in the week, but that detail comes from reporting, not from Everton, and the club has not confirmed it. Until Everton say more, anything beyond the official wording — what happened, and how long any absence might last — is speculation rather than fact.
Tyrique George replaced Grealish in the starting line-up on the left wing, and Everton did not appear to miss their star man. Goals from James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry — Barry sealing it in the 69th minute — put the home side 3-0 up, before Dan Burn headed in a late consolation for Newcastle in the 88th minute. Full details of the tie are on the Everton vs Newcastle United match page.
The win books Everton a Carabao Cup quarter-final away to League Two side Fleetwood Town, who produced the shock of the round by beating Arsenal on penalties on Tuesday night. It also means the cup tie was only the first half of a quickfire double-header: the two sides meet again on Monday night, this time in the league, at St James' Park.
It was Grealish's second successive absence. Everton had said he missed the previous weekend's defeat to Arsenal through illness, so Thursday's omission was a different matter entirely — a disciplinary decision, taken by the club, rather than a fitness problem.
After the game, Moyes backed the club's decision while refusing to go into detail about it, describing it as a club decision that he supports. Asked whether Grealish would be in contention for Monday's trip to Newcastle, he gave nothing away, saying he never reveals anything about team selection in advance. In other words, Everton have confirmed one absence — Thursday's cup tie — and nothing about the next match.
That leaves Monday as the first real test of how far this goes. If Grealish is back in the squad at St James' Park, Thursday reads as a one-match disciplinary matter, dealt with and closed. If he is absent again, the questions get bigger: what exactly happened, and whether a longer sanction is in play. Neither answer is available yet, and Moyes' silence suggests no answer will come before the team sheet lands on Monday evening.
The rematch is a Premier League fixture with real edge now. Newcastle, beaten 3-1 on Thursday, host Everton at St James' Park on Monday 2 November 2026, kicking off at 20:00 GMT — see the Newcastle United vs Everton match page. Newcastle will want instant revenge in front of their own crowd; Everton will want to prove Thursday was no fluke, with or without their most famous player.
For Everton, the wider picture is encouraging regardless of the Grealish question. Thursday's win came without him and without Branthwaite, and the goals were spread across the side rather than depending on one man. George stepped in on the left, the midfield supplied two of the three goals, and Barry finished the job. If Grealish does return on Monday, Moyes has a selection decision to make about a winning team; if he does not, Everton have just shown they can win a big cup tie without him.
Three things remain unconfirmed: what the breach actually was, whether Grealish will be available for Monday's league game at Newcastle, and whether any further club action follows. The only confirmed facts are the club's own words, the omission from Thursday's squad, and the 3-1 win that followed.
What to watch for is simple: Everton's team news on Monday, and any further official word from the club before then. ScorePulse will update this story when Everton give their next official word.
Bayern confirmed Kompany left hospital on Wednesday after doctors identified meningeal irritation as the cause of his collapse, with no return date set and Aaron Danks still in charge for Der Klassiker.
Chelsea confirmed João Pedro will miss the Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool with a thigh injury, with Xabi Alonso saying the striker is out for a few weeks and no return date given.
Both unbeaten in five meet at the Allianz Arena: Bayern have scored 20 in their last five, Dortmund have kept four clean sheets — form, numbers and kick-off time for Saturday night.
