Wolves will look to prove Saturday's defeat to Bournemouth was simply a bump in the road when they make the trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Wednesday evening.
1 | Roll Call
Nelson Semedo’s fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday means he won’t travel to Merseyside, with Matt Doherty and Pedro Lima the natural replacement options. Gary O’Neil did confirm that he has no fresh injury concerns however, meaning Santiago Bueno and Pablo Sarabia have stepped up their recoveries further. Craig Dawson started on the bench on Saturday, so could return to the starting line-up, while the likes of Tommy Doyle, Goncalo Guedes and Hee Chan Hwang will be hoping for more opportunities in the coming games. Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic remain long-term absentees.
As for Everton, manager Sean Dyche was asked about the fitness of Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti during Tuesday’s press conference. Broja is yet to play for the first-team, having joined on loan from Chelsea with a previous injury, but did play 71 minutes for the under-21s on Friday. Dyche said he’s “in and around it” so may make his debut, while Chermiti is not yet ready. Timothy Iroegbunam, James Garner and Dele Alli remain out injured. Beto received the nod ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Old Trafford, but Dyche make return to his more regular focal point.
2 | The Stat Pack
Goals
- Matheus Cunha | 7
- Dwight McNeil | 3
Assists
- Mario Lemina | 3
- Ashley Young | 3
Biggest win
- Fulham 1-4 Wolves | November 2024
- Ipswich 0-2 Everton | October 2024
Yellow cards
- Nelson Semedo | 5
- Michael Keane | 4
Clean sheets
- Jose Sa | 1
- Jordan Pickford | 4
3 | Journey to Wednesday
Wolves' revival took a hit at the weekend, when a chaotic opening 20 minutes led to defeat at the hands of AFC Bournemouth at Molineux. That reverse followed a four-match unbeaten run consisting of two draws and two victories. Last time out on their travels the Old Gold comprehensively beat Fulham 4-1, having beaten Southampton at Molineux prior to the international break. O’Neil’s side began their upturn in results with a late draw at Brighton & Hove Albion, where Matheus Cunha was the hero. Scoring goals hasn't been a problem for Wolves, who’ve netted at least two in their past five matches. Jorgen Strand Larsen added another two strikes to his tally against the Cherries, after a purple patch from Cunha in previous weeks. A return to form is now the aim at Goodison Park.
Everton themselves are recovering from a heavy defeat at the weekend, after going down 4-0 at Manchester United on Sunday. That loss, which was Ruben Amorin’s first win at the Old Trafford helm, came after four goals in a 30 minute spell around the half-time break. Previously, the Toffee had recorded back-to-back goalless draws at West Ham United and then at home to Brentford, who played the second half with ten men. Everton’s last win came at Ipswich Town in October and Dyche’s side have gone the following four matches since without scoring a goal. Their ten goals this term is the joint lowest in the league, but Jordan Pickford has kept four clean sheets between the sticks, meaning their games are often low scoring affairs, stark contrast to Wolves.
4 | Enjoying the festive period at Goodison
Two years ago Wolves travelled to Goodison Park on Boxing Day for Julen Lopetegui’s first Premier League match in charge. The Old Gold were struggling at the foot of the table, but victory on Merseyside ignited their charge to safety during the first part of 2023. Things hadn’t started so well, however, after Yerry Mina headed the hosts in front. Daniel Podence then finished off a clever set piece routine to draw Wolves level before the interval. With the game in the balance, and Everton also fighting at the wrong end of the table, the dramatic late twist was a big one, and went the way of Wolves. After Matheus Nunes freed Adama Traore down the right, the Spaniard’s cross fell to Rayan Ait-Nouri at the back post and once the full-back tucked home, he sparked wild scenes of celebration in the away end. Lopetegui’s Wolves were up and running.
Everton | Pickford, Patterson, Mina (Godfrey 76), Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Onana, Gueye (Doucoure 83), Iwobi, Gordon, McNeil (Gray 56), Maupay (Cannon 83).
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno (Ait-Nouri 59), Hodge (Nunes 59), Neves, Moutinho (Toti 78), Hwang (Adama 60), Podence (Guedes 73), Costa.
