Everton's Carabao Cup third round fixture has been rescheduled due to a clash with UEFA's Champions League calendar. The Football League confirmed the Toffees will now host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, September 16, a week later than originally planned, after European football's governing body refused to move a Liverpool match.
Why was the Everton match moved?
The conflict arose because UEFA scheduled Liverpool's Champions League group stage match against Atletico Madrid for September 9. That is the same evening Everton were originally set to play Wolves at Goodison Park. Local safety authorities cannot permit two major home fixtures in the city on the same night. The EFL stated it met with UEFA officials on Monday seeking a solution, but European organizers said they were unwilling to reschedule the Liverpool game due to the impact on overseas supporters who had already made travel plans.
This forced the League to alter multiple fixtures. As reported by Daily Mail Sport, Liverpool's Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham was brought forward 24 hours to September 15. Wolves also saw their Championship match against Portsmouth postponed from September 16 to October 20. The EFL criticized what it called UEFA's "unwillingness to co-operate" after being forced into these "disappointing" changes.
What did the EFL and UEFA say?
The English league issued a strong statement. "Over recent seasons the League has made a number of changes to accommodate the expansion of UEFA Club competitions," the EFL said, adding this was "a decision which was made without adequate consultation with domestic leagues." UEFA responded by stating it regularly receives scheduling requests and "always does its best to accommodate reasonable requests wherever possible." It noted the specific conflict only became apparent after fixture lists were published and emphasized respect for fans' international travel arrangements.
How does this affect Everton's schedule?
The shift adds another home date to Everton's early-season calendar. Sean Dyche's side currently sit sixth in the Premier League with four points from two games, following a win and a draw. Their next league match is a big home clash against Manchester United on September 6, which you can find on our fixtures page. The team has scored three goals and conceded just one so far, putting them two points behind early leaders Manchester City in the title race.
Balancing cup and league commitments will be a test for squad depth, especially with midfielder Christian Nørgaard currently sidelined. The rescheduled cup tie against Wolves now falls just three days after a potential demanding league fixture. Fans can track the team's progress and check the latest standings as the season develops. Everton enter the Carabao Cup at the third round stage alongside other European qualifiers, with the draw structured to keep those teams apart initially.
What happens next for Everton?
The immediate focus returns to Premier League action. After hosting Manchester United, attention will turn to the revised cup date at Goodison Park. A win against Wolves would see Everton progress to the fourth round of a competition they last won in 1995. The full schedule for September is now confirmed, with the club facing a run of games in quick succession. You can view the complete squad available for these challenges on our squad page. Everton's next fixture is at home to Manchester United on September 6, 2026.
