England Premier League
Monday 26th December 2022
Kick off at 3pm GMT
Venue: Goodison Park
Match Preview:
After a start that suggested otherwise Everton look to have another relegation battle on their hands and the worry for the long suffering fans is that the law of averages may not go in their favour this time like it did last season.
Everton are in 17th place with 14 points and are just a point above the relegation zone. They have won just once in their last five and come into this game having lost their last two. Just before the break Bournemouth were the scorn of the team having scored four goals past them as they knocked the Toffees out of the Carabao Cup and then followed that up days later with a 3-0 victory in the league. Everton lost their other game against Leicester a side who have struggled in this campaign too.
At home Everton’s most common result is defeat with three so far from seven games played and just two wins. While they have only conceded six goals a record better than the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool they have only scored six and only Wolves can beat that with five. If you don’t score you don’t win and that has been the worrying trend for Frank Lampard’s side. However the break has obviously come at the right and wrong time for different teams and it seems to have come at the right time for Everton but this game you feel really is a must win being at home.
There aren’t many clubs poorer than Everton this season but Wolves have been one of them. Indeed they are bottom of the league with 10 points and have lost 9 games from 15 played so far. They have scored just 8 goals and are close to conceding two goals on average per game. It gets worse as they have earned just 1 point from their last 15 and their last game finished in a 2-0 loss against Arsenal. On the road they are yet to win and have won just 2 points from a possible 21 although they did draw their last game against Brentford. This is a new chapter for Wolves who have appointed Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui. This game will be his first in the league but he did oversee one match before the break which was in the Carabao Cup as his side beat Gillingham 2-0.
Team News:
Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin is being tipped to return for this game after spending a lengthy period out with a knee injury. Andros Townsend could also make a return from the same injury but will be assessed. Conor Coady is ineligible to face his parent club.
Wolves: Jonny will be assessed after being unavailable previously due to a groin strain. Pedro Neto is still out with an ankle injury and there have been no updates. Boubacar Traore could return from a groin injury and will be assessed.
Everton vs Wolves Head to Head:
Last season Wolves won this fixture 1-0.
Everton have lost 3 of the last 5 meetings against Wolves.
There is a 70% chance to see over 2.5 goals.
Everton vs Wolves Prediction:
We can see how poor Wolves have been so far in the campaign and they have not won a game away from home yet. However doesn’t that actually pile more pressure on Everton not to lose this game? And that pressure is going onto a side suffering from a lack of confidence. It is though evidently hard to judge what Everton side will come out of the tunnel given the six week break. A break like this is uncommon in English football though it did happen during the pandemic, teams returned to empty grounds not fans who can sometimes put the pressure on you too. Not that Everton fans would, but if the game goes against you and you concede first that can really pile the pressure on players to perform and beat a side that cannot win on the road.
The added problem for Everton is that Wolves have a new manager in charge and it will be his first league game and they will fire up Wolves, and they are not expected to be the same team that we have seen so far. For Everton though the fans will welcome them back and hopefully that will extend to forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has been badly missed this season with recurring injuries. He will be needed as Everton are lacking goals. Lampard will be hoping to get his side back into better shape in defence, as they had started the season so well but have fallen apart in the last five games. We expect the game to be very close, and we will back the home side to win, this would be a huge one for them and get them back on track but proceed with caution.
Everton vs Wolves Betting Tips:
Everton to beat Wolves at 2.25
Half Time Correct Score: 0-0 or 1-0 to Everton at 2.50 and 4.00
Anytime goalscorer: Dominic Calvert-Lewin at 2.75
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