EFL Cup: Everton vs Wolves Preview – Head-to-Head, Barry's Form and Kick-Off Time

Everton host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) third round on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, with kick-off at 19:45 UK time — around 00:15 IST on Thursday, 17 September for viewers in India. The fixture is one of four EFL Cup ties that evening, alongside Manchester United vs Brighton, Coventry City vs Aston Villa and Fleetwood Town vs Sheffield United, according to BBC Sport's live coverage.

Why this EFL Cup tie is trending in India

Google Trends data for India recorded roughly 20,000 searches for "efl cup" in the 24 hours to 16 September 2026, with related queries including "carabao cup" and "efl". That signals strong search interest among Indian football fans — it does not, by itself, confirm any particular match outcome or rumour.

Head-to-head: Wolves hold the recent edge

The recent history favours the visitors. According to OneFootball's preview, Wolves have won five of the last ten meetings, with Everton winning two and three draws. Wolves also beat Everton 2-0 at the same stage of this competition last season, on 23 September 2025, though that game was at Molineux. The most recent meeting, a Premier League fixture on 7 January 2026, ended 1-1.

The longer historical picture is more balanced. ToffeeWeb's opposition report notes the clubs have met 147 times, with Everton winning 65, Wolves 52, and 30 draws — and that Everton have lost only one of their last five against Wolves.

Form guide: unbeaten Everton vs one-loss Wolves

Everton arrive on a five-game unbeaten run, but their last three league matches all ended in draws — 0-0 vs Tottenham, 2-2 vs Manchester United and 1-1 vs Bournemouth. Their cup form has been far more ruthless: a 4-0 win away at Preston in the previous round.

Wolves, now a Championship side, sit 7th in the second tier and have lost only once this season. Their League Cup campaign has been flawless so far — wins over Port Vale and Sheffield Wednesday without conceding a goal. Both teams have kept clean sheets in all their League Cup matches this season.

Players to watch: Thiemo Barry and Raul Jimenez

Everton attacker Thiemo Barry was directly involved in all four goals in the previous round, scoring a hat-trick and providing one assist. For Wolves, ToffeeWeb highlights veteran striker Raul Jimenez, who has scored six goals in 12 appearances against Everton — a tally he has bettered only against West Ham.

What to keep in mind

Line-ups circulating before kick-off — including those published by prediction sites — are probable only and not officially confirmed until the teams are announced. Betting odds quoted in previews were collected at the time of writing and are subject to change; they reflect historical data, not certainty. OneFootball's prediction leans towards a Wolves win, but Everton's home advantage at Hill Dickinson Stadium and their fully fit squad make this a genuinely open knockout tie.