David Moyes has three problems to solve at Everton to avoid being exposed by Newcastle

Everton are set for mid-week action this week against Newcastle in the EFL Cup in what could be a huge opportunity for silverware this season.

Everton host Newcastle at the Hill Dickinson on Thursday night with Arsenal crashing out to Fleetwood Town opening up a potential easier cup run for the victor.

However, Everton are coming off two defeats in a row and David Moyes is going to need to massively change things up if he is to take the Toffees into the next round.

To accomplish this, Moyes has three problems he needs to solve ahead of the game.

Narrative around defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal has been a case of ‘what else can you expect’ considering the two giants of the sport and their multi-billion squads. But Everton shouldn’t be lying down like this for anyone.

While on paper being the huge underdogs, Moyes’ side did compete in both games and on another day with more luck could have been walking away with points.

Moyes felt Arsenal’s opener shouldn’t have counted at the weekend, and had a point. If this hadn’t, maybe Everton go on to claim a point or more.

But what is vital is Moyes needs to instil a belief that Everton can beat anyone, especially against Newcastle who aren’t at that level despite their success in recent seasons.

Everton’s problem this season hasn’t been defensively, instead it has been scoring goals at the other end with poor finishing proving costly. Thierno Barry particularly has been wasteful with his underperformance in front of goal among the worst in the league.

Against both Chelsea and Arsenal, Everton had two big chances but failed to convert either of the four across these two games. This is unsustainable and if Moyes is to get back to winning ways he will need his attackers to put these chances away.

What might give him faith is that a lot of Newcastle’s conceded goals this season have been from range, not necessarily well fashioned chances.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Merlin Rohl, Jack Grealish, Tyrique George and others can all hit a ball from around the edge of the area and it could be a viable route to goals in this game.

Newcastle have been in a golden era recently, but this team is not the one that Eddie Howe had winning a trophy and finishing in the top four, it is a vulnerable and young side Everton should make a statement against.

Newcastle have 4-1 losses away from home to Leeds and also Coventry, so they are culpable to a thrashing and this type of win would be huge for Moyes in terms of changing the narrative around him.

Everton should be smelling blood and come out the blocks quick, relentless and put Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle on the back foot.

Moyes can’t send his side out to be timid, make it a nightmare for Newcastle and it could be a statement win for the Toffees.