Preston North End
Everton
Preston North End vs Everton Prediction & Betting Tips – 26/08/2026
Deepdale hosts a tasty Carabao Cup second-round tie on 26 August as Preston North End welcome Everton under the floodlights. The fixture carries extra intrigue with David Moyes returning to the ground where he cut his managerial teeth between 1998 and 2002. For Preston, a Championship side enduring a difficult start to the campaign, this is a chance to deliver cup magic against top-flight opposition. Everton, buoyed by an opening-day Premier League victory, will fancy their chances of progression.
Match Analysis
Everton arrive at Deepdale as commanding favourites at 1.50, backed by a 2-0 Premier League opening-day win over Crystal Palace and a 3-0 victory at this exact venue just twelve months ago. Even a rotated Moyes side carries clear top-flight quality.
- 3-0 win at Deepdale in August 2024 underlines Everton's dominance at this ground.
- 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Premier League opening day shows strong early-season form.
- Premier League squad depth dwarfs Championship opposition even after heavy rotation from Moyes.
- Iroegbunam and Nørgaard absent, yet remaining options still outclass Preston's depleted roster.
Preston North End face a steep challenge at 5.50, sitting bottom of their own confidence after two consecutive Championship defeats. A penalty-shootout first-round win over Huddersfield barely masks a side that has not kept a clean sheet in 18 matches.
- Zero clean sheets in last 18 matches signals a chronically vulnerable defence.
- Preston conceded first in all three competitive fixtures so far this season.
- Key attackers Lang, Potts and Erabi all unavailable, gutting offensive options.
Key point: With Preston conceding in every recent outing and Everton's attack still carrying Premier League quality, the double chance covering an away win complements backing 1.50 as the primary angle.
Form & Statistics: Preston North End vs Everton
Preston North End
Recent form
Season statistics (3)
Everton
Recent form
Season statistics (5)
Preston North End vs Everton: Head-to-Head
Average statistics (recent meetings)
Lineups: Preston North End vs Everton
Preston North End
Starters
- 1 Iversen
- 2 Pol Valentin
- 3 Storey
- 4 Gibson
- 5 Vukcevic
- 6 McCann
- 7 Thompson
- 8 Burgzorg
- 9 Devine
- 10 Small
Bench
- Clarke
- Hughes
- Lindsay
- Leroy
- Gryba
- Moran
Absent
- Jamal Piaras Lewis (injury)
- Callum Lang (injury)
- Theo Carroll (injury)
- Brad Potts (unspecified)
Everton
Starters
- 1 Travers
- 2 O'Brien
- 3 Tarkowski
- 4 Keane
- 5 Mykolenko
- 6 Armstrong
- 7 Dibling
- 8 Alcaraz
- 9 Johnson
- 10 Beto
Bench
- Pickford
- Branthwaite
- Garner
- Dewsbury-Hall
- Barry
- Rohl
- George
Absent
- Hayden Hackney (injury)
- Tim Iroegbunam (adductor strain)
- Christian Nørgaard (unspecified issue/match fitness)
Medium confidence
A mirror image of formations sets the stage here, with both sides lining up in a 4-2-3-1. Everton's lineup carries greater certainty, drawn from a consensus of credible sources, whilst Preston's probable XI rests on a single outlet, so a degree of caution is warranted before kickoff.
For Preston, the onus falls on their attacking midfield trio to press high and disrupt Everton's rhythm early. Beto leads the line for the visitors, supported by Tyler Dibling in what shapes up as an intriguing tactical contest between two sides seeking early Carabao Cup momentum.
Our Verdict
Our pick is an Everton away win at 1.50. Preston's early Championship form reads two defeats and a draw, while the Toffees opened their Premier League campaign with a clean-sheet victory. The sole head-to-head at this venue tells its own story: Everton ran out 3-0 winners in August 2024. Even with David Moyes expected to rotate, the squad depth available to a top-flight side should prove decisive against a Preston outfit low on confidence. Back the visitors to progress comfortably. Odds correct at time of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet for Preston North End vs Everton?
An Everton away win is the standout selection here, available at 1.50. The Toffees' Premier League quality dwarfs a Preston side that has conceded first in every competitive fixture this season and kept no clean sheets in their last 18 matches. Even with Moyes rotating his squad, Everton's depth comfortably outclasses a depleted Championship outfit.
What time does Preston North End vs Everton kick off?
The match kicks off at 7:00 PM (BST) on Wednesday, 26th August 2026, at Deepdale, Preston's home ground in Lancashire. It is a Carabao Cup second-round tie, and supporters should note the early-evening start when making their way to the stadium.
Where can I watch Preston North End vs Everton on TV?
Broadcast arrangements for this Carabao Cup second-round fixture have not been confirmed in our available information. We recommend checking the official Carabao Cup broadcaster listings, typically Sky Sports or Sky Sports+ in the United Kingdom, or the official club channels for any streaming options that may be made available.
What is Preston North End's recent record against Everton?
The head-to-head record between these two sides is limited in recent years, but the sole meeting of note is emphatic: Everton defeated Preston 3-0 at Deepdale in August 2024, in this very same competition. That result speaks volumes about the gulf in class between a Premier League side and their Championship opponents.