Heist vs Antwerp - Cup

The Cup returns to the home ground on October 17, 2026, where Heist and Antwerp will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

Both Heist and Antwerp will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Cup. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. If Everton are to qualify for Europe, they will need a striker who wins them points.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. Florian Wirtz lost possession 17 times in Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, more than any other player.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. He still makes those tactically fascinating runs forward to create chaos.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. With positions in the Cup table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. The 22-year-old was likely quite high up on the list of United's midfield targets and potentially even higher after Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga blows.