Everton kick off an attempt to end a 23 year trophy drought when Marco Silva’s side welcome Rotherham United to Goodison Park in the Carabao Cup.
Generations of Evertonians have never seen their beloved club lift a trophy, no blue has ever witnessed their side win the League Cup.
Silva, without the hindrance of European football this term, will be hoping he is the man to break the Toffees’ duck.
Despite being one of the Premier League’s youngest coaches at 41, the gaffer has picked up three trophies in his short managerial career, the Segunda Liga, the Taca de Portugal and the Greek Superleague.
The Millers downed Wigan 3-1 in the opening round of the tournament setting up the L4 showdown.
But after five Championship fixtures Rotherham find themselves 15th, with six points. After yo-yoing between the second and third division of English football manager Paul Warne will be desperate for stability, so staying up will take much more of a priority than a potential cup run.
Everton’s last four meetings with Rotherham came in this competition, in 1992, Rotherham got the better of the Blues in a 1-0 win in September, but the Blues ran away 3-0 winners in the October. In September 1987 Everton defeated the Millers 3-2 at Goodison but the sides had to settle for a 0-0 draw two weeks later.
The Blues have faced off with Wednesday’s opponents on 10 occasions, winning four, drawing four and losing two.
If the game is level after 90 minutes it goes straight to penalties.
Team news
The League Cup could give fringe players a chance to show Silva what they are capable of.
The likes of Ademola Lookman, Tom Davies, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jonjoe Kenny could all get their chance to shine for the Blues.
Lucas Digne, Kurt Zouma and Bernard could be set for their first starts in the royal blue but fellow new signings Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina aren’t expected to be fit.
Richarlison will serve the first game of his three game suspension after he was dismissed against Bournemouth at the weekend, whereas this will be the last of Phil Jagielka’s three-game absence.
Michael Keane is set to miss three to four weeks after he sustained a hairline fracture of the skull over the weekend.
Man in the middle
History will be made during the clash, with VAR set to be used in a match involving Everton for the very first time.
Oxford official Graham Scott will take the whistle for the clash but Kevin Friend will have the role of Video Assistant Referee.
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