On Saturday, 10 January, Everton faced Sunderland in an FA Cup third-round clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The day marked Everton's first FA Cup match in their new stadium in what supporters had hoped could have been the start of a memorable cup run under David Moyes.
As it happened, the Toffees ended up being dumped out of the world's oldest cup competition via a penalty shootout, but that wasn't the biggest talking point of the afternoon.
The kit Everton wore for the match brought about plenty of headlines as it was one they had never previously worn before. So what was the dark blue and pink strip all about?
Everton FA Cup kit explained
Questions are always going to be raised whenever Everton don't wear their famous royal blue kit in a home match, and that was no different this weekend. Not least because the club also weren't playing in either of their recognised away kits.
Everton have a new kit, and associated training collection, that will be debuted in the club’s FA Cup tie with Sunderland today.
— Joe Thomas (@joe_thomas18) January 10, 2026
The fourth kit celebrates the skyline of Liverpool, including the new stadium pic.twitter.com/mR7p533ZXu
In a statement released by the club's kit manufacturers, Castore, it was revealed that the kit was an ode to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and its location in Liverpool. It read:
“Castore is kicking off 2026 with a new Everton kit and matchday range that celebrates Hill Dickinson Stadium’s place in one of the most iconic and revered cities in the world.
“The exclusive collection includes a selection of dark blue warm-up shirts and track jackets featuring an abstract design that pays homage to notable buildings from Liverpool’s famous skyline, including Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Three Graces and St John's Beacon.
“Central to the range is a dark blue playing kit that will be worn by the Men’s Senior Team for today’s FA Cup third round tie against Sunderland and by Everton Women when they face Manchester City on Sunday.”
FGG says: A gimmick that doesn't need to return
While I'm all for one-off kits that are used to help raise awareness for important off-field matters or to commemorate iconic moments in a club's history, wearing a kit that has been designed to pay tribute to a stadium that has only been in operation for six months feels wrong. Surely a nod to Goodison Park would have been more appropriate?