Preston North End 0-4 Everton: Match Report and Player Ratings as Thierno Barry Bags Hat-Trick

Thierno Barry stole the show with his first Everton hat-trick as the Toffees cruised into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale.

The Frenchman continued his perfect start to the new campaign with three goals and an assist, while substitute Brennan Johnson opened his Everton account to put the icing on the cake for David Moyes' side.

After all the talk surrounding Moyes' pre-match comments about the importance of the cup competitions, his team did their talking on the pitch, with a strong Everton side making light work of their Championship opposition.

The Toffees came into the game full of confidence after a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, with goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Barry securing their first opening-day league victory since 2021.

Preston's start couldn't have been more different. Paul Heckingbottom's side had lost their opening two Championship fixtures against Bolton Wanderers and Wolves, while they needed penalties to overcome Huddersfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Moyes returned to familiar territory at Deepdale, where he spent four years as a player before beginning his managerial career with the Lilywhites in 1998.

Despite the fixture coming just four days after the victory over Palace, the Scotsman showed his intent by naming a strong starting XI and making just three changes.

Michael Keane, James Garner and Tyler Dibling came into the side, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Hayden Hackney rested and Tyrique George dropping to the bench.

Jordan Pickford started his first Carabao Cup game in two years, while Harrison Armstrong started against the club where he enjoyed a successful loan spell last season.

Preston, meanwhile, made seven changes as Heckingbottom shuffled his pack following their difficult start to the Championship campaign.

Barry Breaks the Deadlock

Everton dominated possession from the opening whistle, with Preston seemingly happy to concede the ball and look to hurt the visitors on the counter-attack.

Despite their heavy pressure around the Preston box, clear-cut chances were initially hard to come by. A couple of wayward efforts from Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling were about as close as the Toffees came during the opening exchanges.

That was until the 25th minute.

The Lilywhites were undone by a magical pass from Dewsbury-Hall, who spotted Vitalii Mykolenko charging down the left and picked out the Ukrainian inside the penalty area.

Mykolenko turned provider, squaring the ball across the face of goal for the onrushing Barry to slot home from eight yards and give Everton a deserved lead.

Everton could have gone into the break two goals to the good as Dibling produced a neat turn inside the penalty area before seeing an effort with his weaker foot kept out by Daniel Nicholls.

Nevertheless, the Toffees went down the tunnel with a deserved one-goal advantage.

Barry at the Double

The second half began much like the first, with Everton controlling proceedings and searching for the goal that would put some breathing space between themselves and the hosts.

Some excellent link-up play saw Iliman Ndiaye feed Barry inside the area, but the striker's header flashed narrowly wide of Nicholls' post.

He wouldn't make the same mistake the next time the ball fell his way.

On 59 minutes, Ndiaye was involved again, this time finding Dewsbury-Hall inside the penalty area. The midfielder's powerful near-post effort was parried by Nicholls but only as far as Barry, with the ball ricocheting off the striker and into the net to double Everton's advantage.

A rather fortuitous goal, but a poacher's finish nonetheless, something us Everton fans haven't seen enough of in recent years. Preston finally threatened to make a contest of things after falling two behind, with substitute Callum Lang producing the hosts' best moment of the evening.

A spectacular effort looked destined to give the home supporters something to cheer for once, only for Pickford to do what he does best to preserve Everton's two-goal cushion.

Hat-Trick Hero

Everton refused to take their foot off the gas, and some aggressive substitutions from Moyes saw Brennan Johnson replace Dibling, with the Welshman needing little time to make his mark.

A devastating Everton counter-attack started by Pickford found Dewsbury-Hall in acres of space in the middle of the pitch. He beautifully released the charging Johnson down the flank, who picked out Barry at the back post.

The striker made no mistake, converting from close range to complete his hat-trick and spark celebrations among the travelling Evertonians behind the goal.

It was a brilliant moment for the young striker, who has spoken about his determination to show supporters "the real Thierno" this season.

A hat-trick to go alongside his goal in the opening Premier League fixture isn't a bad way to start if you ask me.

It was also Everton's first hat-trick since Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted three against West Ham United in the same competition back in September 2020.

Thierno Barry's hat-trick is our first since September 2020. 🎩

Clinical, Baz! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/F0EqCygbjt

— Everton (@Everton) August 26, 2026

There wasn't much time for Barry to celebrate, either. Just three minutes after completing his treble, the striker turned provider, with some quick thinking releasing Johnson into the Preston box before the winger calmly dispatched a low-driven effort beyond Nicholls to make it four. Johnson's first Everton goal came alongside an assist in an impressive cameo from the substitute, putting the icing on the cake of a dominant evening at Deepdale.

With the contest well and truly over, the final stages mellowed out as Moyes used the opportunity to give some much-needed rest to players who had already accumulated plenty of minutes during the opening week of the campaign.

The final whistle confirmed a comprehensive victory and Everton's place in the third round.

Barry went home with the match ball, Johnson with his first goal for the club and the travelling supporters could make their way back to Merseyside knowing that, after all the talk beforehand, Everton were indeed up for the Cup.

Man of the Match – Thierno Barry

Who else?

Three goals, one assist and the match ball! 🔥

Thierno Barry is your POTM. 👏 pic.twitter.com/IzhYsfM2B4

— Everton (@Everton) August 26, 2026

Three goals, one assist and a match ball heading back to Merseyside. Barry said before the season that Everton fans were yet to see "the real Thierno", and after four goals in his opening two games, I'm starting to see what he meant.

His second might have been one of the scruffiest goals he'll ever score, but who cares? He was in the right place at the right time all evening. Everton's first hat-trick since Dominic Calvert-Lewin in 2020. Six years we've waited for another one.

Some night for the big man.

Bad Day at the Office – Tyler Dibling

I was really impressed with Dibling throughout pre-season, but a different player seemed to show up tonight.

The youngster struggled to make his usual impact, despite forcing Nicholls into a good save before half-time, and was eventually replaced by Brennan Johnson.

It wasn't a bad performance by any means, but on a night where almost everything went right for Everton, Dibling left me wanting more.

Everton Player Ratings

Jordan Pickford: 7 – A relatively quiet evening until Callum Lang's spectacular effort forced him into an excellent save. His quick thinking also helped launch the counter-attack for Everton's third. A rather boring evening for the former PNE man, which is exactly how he'll - and we’ll - like it.

Merlin Röhl: 6 – Nothing spectacular. Moved into a more advanced role later in the second half and did his job without ever really standing out. The wait for that coveted right-back continues.

James Tarkowski: 7 – Rock solid and dealt comfortably with what Preston had to offer. Honestly forgot he was playing at times, which probably tells you everything about Everton's night defensively.

Michael Keane: 7 – Another comfortable evening at the back. Rarely troubled and did everything asked of him alongside Tarkowski.

Vitalii Mykolenko: 8 – Someone's decided to show up! Produced the assist for Barry's opener and was excellent getting forward down the left, while remaining solid defensively.

James Garner: 7 – Decent. Still working his way back towards full fitness following his summer surgery but showed plenty of promising signs before being withdrawn.

Harrison Armstrong: 8 – Lively, energetic and still going late into the game. Preston would do anything to have him back, I’m sure. Sorry guys, he’s ours now.

Tyler Dibling: 6 – Had Everton's best opportunity outside the goal during the first half but didn't have nearly the impact we saw from him during pre-season. Johnson certainly gave him something to think about after replacing him.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 8 – He's boss, la.

Iliman Ndiaye: 7 – Not his most spectacular performance but was still involved in plenty of Everton's attacking play, including the build-up to Barry's second. You know you've had a decent night when a player of Ndiaye's quality can quietly go about his business in a 4-0 win.

Thierno Barry: 10 – I mean, what else can be said? Three goals and an assist. Everton's first hat-trick since Dominic Calvert-Lewin in September 2020. I was 18 then, I'm 24 now. Some going tonight from the next Henry.

Substitutes

Brennan Johnson: 8 – A goal and an assist within minutes of coming onto the pitch. An absolutely devastating cameo and exactly the sort of introduction Everton supporters will have wanted to see.

Nathan Patterson: 6 – Introduced with the game already won and had little opportunity to make any meaningful impact.

Tyrique George: N/A – Introduced too late to rate. Charly Alcaraz: N/A – Introduced too late to rate. Adam Aznou: N/A – Introduced too late to rate.

What's Next?

Everton's reward for tonight’s performance is a home tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

🏆 We will face @Wolves in Round Three of the Carabao Cup.

A date and time will be confirmed in due course. pic.twitter.com/IWRwTCAghP

— Everton (@Everton) August 26, 2026

It will be a chance for some revenge after Wolves dumped the Toffees out of the competition at the same stage last season, although this time Everton will have home advantage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Third-round fixtures are scheduled to take place across the weeks commencing September 7 and September 14, with the exact date of Everton's tie to be confirmed.