David Moyes insisted he wants to go on a “good run” in the EFL Cup with Everton, but would not prioritise the competition over the Premier League.
Everton face Preston North End in the second round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, having started their league campaign with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Everton have reached the third round of the EFL Cup in each of the last 24 seasons in the competition, a run that has also seen the Toffees win all of their last 15 second round matches, scoring 46 goals and conceding just 12.
They have lost just one of their last six matches against Preston across all competitions (W3 D2), keeping a clean sheet in five of those six matches.
Each of the last two competitive meetings between Preston and Everton have seen Moyes in the dugout, with the Scot losing 2-0 to the Toffees in the FA Cup fifth round in January 2000 whilst in charge of Preston, and winning 2-0 with Everton in the EFL Cup third round in October 2004.
While Moyes wants to build a strong cup run with Everton, he admitted Premier League safety is the bigger priority.
“Of course, we all want to win the cups,” said Moyes.
When you realise the Toffees are back in action tomorrow… pic.twitter.com/LZBAece8p8
— Everton (@Everton) August 25, 2026
“Yes, the cups are hugely important, would it be more important than staying in the Premier League?
“I’ll ask you the question: Is winning a cup more important than staying in the Premier League? What would your answer be?
“Of course we want to do well in the cups, I can’t think of any manager who wouldn’t want a good run in the cups.
“They [Preston] are a good side and it is me going back to where I started as well.”
