Everton tipped to win Carabao Cup ahead of Burnley tie by Ally McCoist live on talkSPORT
Everton have got a great “opportunity” to lift a trophy this season with their continued participation in the Carabao Cup, according to Ally McCoist.
The talkSPORT pundit said live on the station on 1 November that despite the Toffees having been “down in the doldrums” in recent seasons they are in with a shot of lifting the League Cup this year, with Manchester City already out and further Premier League sides guaranteed to exit in the fourth round, asking “why not?”
Sean Dyche’s side face struggling Burnley at Goodison Park having been to Villa Park and knocked out Aston Villa in the previous round.
McCoist said (8.09am): “You mentioned Everton, why not? What an opportunity for them. They’ve been down in the doldrums the last couple of seasons fighting relegation.
“[But] what an opportunity to perhaps go and get a bit of silverware.”
Outside chance
It would clearly be getting too far ahead to envisage a trophy-win before the visit of Vincent Kompany’s side has even been navigated.
The Clarets clash, against Dyche’s former side, potentially represents the kind of banana skin which Everton proved to be for Unai Emery in the previous round.
But if they do the job and get through to the fifth round then there is a potential sniff, given one of Manchester United and Newcastle will definitely also have gone as they face each other on Wednesday.
The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are sure to be favoured ahead of the Toffees still if they get through their own ties.
But after two years of struggle it would be a hugely uplifting experience for the fanbase for the club to actually go on a meaningful cup run which threatens to break a trophy drought which stretches back to the 1995 FA Cup, or arguably the subsequent Charity Shield.
It is obviously still unlikely at this stage but the further the club gets through the competition, and with the form looking tentatively improved with the availability of Dominic Calvert-Lewin now more regular, the more realistic it might become.
In other Everton news, rival clubs have written to 777 Partners with a warning amid their protracted takeover.