Everton clinched a narrow 1-0 triumph at Goodison Park after substitute Charly Alcaraz slotted home a decisive goal in the third round of the Carabao Cup, overcoming a heavily rotated Wolves side. The win sets up a Premier League showdown with Newcastle in the week beginning 26 October, keeping Everton’s unbeaten start to the campaign intact.
Alcaraz entered the match off the bench and, just three minutes later, found the net in the 80th minute. It was only his second goal for the Toffees, the first having come more than a year earlier in the same competition. His strike, a powerful curl from inside the box, proved enough to separate the sides after a tightly contested encounter. Wolves arrived in Merseyside with nine changes to the lineup that had secured a league victory over Sheffield United the previous weekend.
Their most prominent name, striker Raúl Jiménez, who had netted at Bramall Lane, was handed a start but was forced off midway through the first half due to an injury. Post‑match, Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto confirmed that Jiménez would miss the upcoming Black Country derby against West Bromwich Albion at Molineux, a fixture that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The match featured several notable moments from both sides. Wolves’ debutant João Virginia, playing against his former club, produced a spectacular close‑range save to deny Thierno Barry’s header in first‑half stoppage time. On the Everton side, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an early second‑half intervention, parrying a shot from Jiménez’s replacement, Adam Armstrong, which was the visitors’ first attempt on target. Virginia continued to impress, later denying a late attempt from Everton substitute Brennan Johnson.
However, nothing could stop Alcaraz’s late curling effort, which flew past the keeper and settled into the net, sparking celebrations among the home fans and even drawing praise from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian finance minister Mark Carney, both of whom are known Everton supporters. The victory keeps David Moyes’s side in the hunt for their first major trophy since the 1995 FA Cup triumph. Everton’s assistant manager Alan Irvine highlighted the growing importance of 20‑year‑old midfielder Tyler Dibling, who was named man of the match. Dibling, who has struggled to find consistency during his first season with the club, provided the assist for Alcaraz’s winner and seemed more settled after a challenging pre‑season.
Irvine said, "Since he came back for pre‑season, he looks like he belongs here; he looks more comfortable. He is a very quiet lad, and it can sometimes take young lads time to settle in, especially at a club like this with the expectation so that was probably difficult for him last year." Irvine added that he had encouraged Dibling before the game, telling him, "You've been waiting patiently – or impatiently – and you now have your chance.
Make sure the manager has a tough decision to make for the next game," a challenge the youngster met by delivering a decisive contribution. The coach also praised Dibling’s acceleration and hinted that more consistent displays are on the horizon, noting that he has been working closely with fellow youngster Tyrique George during pre‑season to raise their impact on the pitch.
On the Wolves side, Peixoto defended his decision to overhaul the squad, stating, "I think we did a good game; we competed against a strong Premier League team. I think today a lot of young players did a great job. I'm happy with the job today but not with the result." His comments reflected a belief that the experience gained by the younger players would be valuable moving forward, despite the disappointment of a narrow defeat.
The match also featured a technical note for viewers, advising the use of the Chrome browser for an optimal video player experience. Off the pitch, fans were reminded of a promotional offer: a chance to enter the Super 6 competition for free, with a potential £1 million prize on the line.
Overall, Everton’s late heroics secured three points and a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup, while Wolves will have to regroup after a heavy rotation strategy and the loss of Jiménez to injury. Both teams now look ahead to their upcoming fixtures, with Everton hoping to build momentum toward a possible cup run and Wolves aiming to bounce back in the league and upcoming derby.