Everton’s starting line-up for the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers is now confirmed, and Jack Grealish is in the attack as expected. This update reflects the position as of 16 September 2026, ahead of kick-off at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
## Carabao Cup team news update: 16 September 2026
David Moyes has named his Everton side for tonight’s cup tie, and the headline news is Grealish’s inclusion from the start. Wolves have also submitted their team, with a familiar face returning to Merseyside between the posts.
Both clubs have released their starting elevens, though neither has published substitute details. This piece covers only the confirmed starting line-ups, with no speculation on the bench.
## Everton starting XI confirmed with Jack Grealish in attack
Moyes sends out a strong Everton side. Jordan Pickford starts in goal behind a back four of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
James Garner and Hayden Hackney are selected in midfield, with Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall providing width and creativity in support of the front line. Grealish starts in attack alongside Thierno Barry, giving Everton pace and craft going forward from the first whistle.
For a fuller breakdown of how this line-up came together, our initial line-up coverage set out the early team news before kick-off.
## Wolverhampton Wanderers team selection and João Virgínia return
Wolves’ starting eleven features João Virgínia in goal, a player who came through Everton’s academy before leaving the club. He returns to Hill Dickinson Stadium wearing Wolves colours rather than blue.
In front of him, Jackson Tchatchoua, Toti, Ladislav Krejci and Ghislain Konan make up the back line. Boubacar Traoré, Tommy Doyle, Sean Neave and Jordan James are named in midfield, while Tawanda Chirewa and Raúl Jiménez lead the attack.
Doyle and James both have experience of English football at various levels, and their presence in central midfield gives Wolves a settled look against an Everton side chasing progress in the competition.
## Everton vs Wolves confirmed line-ups
Here is the confirmed starting eleven for both sides at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
| Everton | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|---|---|
| Jordan Pickford | João Virgínia |
| Ainsley Maitland-Niles | Jackson Tchatchoua |
| Jake O’Brien | Toti |
| Michael Keane | Ladislav Krejci |
| Vitaliy Mykolenko | Ghislain Konan |
| James Garner | Boubacar Traoré |
| Hayden Hackney | Tommy Doyle |
| Tyler Dibling | Sean Neave |
| Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | Jordan James |
| Jack Grealish | Tawanda Chirewa |
| Thierno Barry | Raúl Jiménez |
No substitutes have been officially published for either side at the time of writing, so this update covers the confirmed starting elevens only.
## What happens next
Everton go into this tie looking to build on recent form, with Grealish’s involvement in attack a key point of interest for supporters at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Moyes will be hoping the blend of experience and pace in his front line can break down a well-organised Wolves side.
For wider context on selection and form heading into this match, talking points ahead of Wolves cover the broader picture around the squad this week.
Readers wanting the full detail from when the teams were first announced can also revisit the original team news report. This page will not be updated further unless official changes to either starting line-up are confirmed before kick-off.
