- Preston North End have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, losing seven of the 10.
- Everton have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five in all competitions, while Preston have won one of three home fixtures in 2026-27.
- Everton averaged 1.29 goals for and 1.14 goals against per 90 minutes in away games across all competitions in 2026-27.
Everton to eke out a victory in tight encounter
David Moyes' Everton are 53/100 favourites for Wednesday's EFL Cup (2026-2027) fourth-round tie at Preston North End, where Paul Heckingbottom's Lilywhites are a live 19/4 outsider. The Toffees are certainly a higher-level side than their Championship opponents, but the odds are certainly on the short side for the visitors, who have had some mixed form this season.
The Toffees have won three of their 10 games across all competitions in 2026-27, drawing three and losing the other four, but they have shown some fight in most of those games. Their 1-1 home draw with OSC Lille followed a 3-1 success over Newcastle on the same ground, but it's fair to say that Moyes has stamped his mark on the team since January 2025.
Everton are a compact team that can sit back in a 4-2-3-1 shape and hit their opponents on the counter-attack. Thierno Barry has been a key man in the last few, providing some spark in attack, the Toffees have scored six goals in their last five, but they will need him to be at his best to unlock a deep Preston North End defense.
Lilywhites can make the Toffees work hard
Preston North End come into this game off the back of a 1-0 away defeat to Stockport County. Before that they had a 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield Town, winning on penalties, and a 2-1 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers.
Heckingbottom took charge in August 2024 and has set Preston up to be a tough nut to crack as well. They will sit deep in a narrow 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 system, looking to counter with pace on the flanks when they win the ball back.
So this could be a classic compact-vs-compact affair that will be decided by transition and dead ball situations. Everton have the quality advantage, but Preston are no mugs and could keep this tight until one team breaks through. Under 2.5 goals at 11/10 looks a good play, as does Both Teams to Score: Yes at 4/5.
The Toffees will likely have enough to win this one, but don't expect the visitors to run away with it. Everton have taken two wins, two draws and three defeats from seven away games in 2026-27, while Preston have won just once in three home games, so Deepdale hasn't been a fortress. Preston have hit six goals in their three home matches so they do carry some threat going forward, but Everton should have the edge in this clash.
