Wolves will look to do away with the woeful double matchday record as they face Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday in the Premier League.
Wolves have done it! The Nuno Espirito Santo-led team has managed to qualify for the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League. But, before the Group Stage begins, the focus will now shift to the Premier League, wherein Wolves have not had the best of starts.
Three draws in succession to begin their campaign means that while Wolves are undefeated in the 2019-20 season so far, the Europa League entrants have managed just 3 points and are currently one of two teams left without a win under their belt, with rock bottom Watford garnering just a solitary point thus far.
Everton, on the other hand, have seen more of the same compared to what they have done each season; mediocrity. Despite one of the best transfer windows so far in the club’s history, The Toffees have just 1 win from their first 3 games, with none of them being fixtures that Everton couldn’t win.
Their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Matchday 3 summed up their toothlessness in attack, with none of their striking options managing to find the back of the net. Amid their indifferent form, the two teams will lock horns on Sunday hoping to go into the international break with a better points tally than before.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Marco Silva has proven last year that he is not one to be bogged down by poor results and is unlikely change much from the 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Matchday 3. The most contentious point is the potential inclusion of summer signing Alex Iwobi, who could come into the starting eleven, with Bernard making way.
While Djibril Sidibe did perform well in the midweek win over Lincoln City, Silva is likely to prefer Seamus Coleman still, with Lucas Digne on the opposite flank in the back four, which is set in stone. Yerry Mina and Michael Keane will make up the numbers ahead of the in-form Jordan Pickford in goal.
The midfield pivot is also set, with Andre Gomes and Morgan Schneiderlin set to take the field against Wolves on Sunday. But, Fabian Delph could be an interesting option in Schneiderlin’s place in the games to come, if not against Wolves. Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson are guaranteed starters, with Iwobi likely to come in for Bernard on the left.
The forward line is again a bone of contention, with Marco Silva preferring Dominic Calvert-Lewin to date, without much success. Moise Kean has played a few minutes each game in the Premier League so far and his display against Lincoln City could earn him a start against Wolves.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Kean, Digne; Schneiderlin, Gomes; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Iwobi; Kean
Wolves
Nuno Espirito Santo is likely to ring in some changes from the lineup that won in midweek against Torino. Matt Doherty, Ryan Bennett and Ruben Neves were rested during the Europa League qualification game against Torino and are sure starters for the match against Everton.
Apart from that, the squad is likely to stay pretty much the same, with the back-three consisting of Bennett, Willy Boly and Conor Coady. Matt Doherty and Jonny will be the wing-backs, with the likes of Neves, Leander Dendoncker and Joao Moutinho making up the numbers in midfield.
Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez form the centre-forward pairing and will be looking to generate some momentum in attack in the Premier League, with the latter scoring 5 goals in the UEFA Europa League qualification games. Adama Troare will be an option from the bench if needed.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho; Jimenez, Jota
Betting Odds
Probables:
1. Everton Draw No Bet @ 1.50
Key Stats
1. Everton have kept a clean sheet in their last six home games in the Premier League.
2. Wolves have drawn their first three league games for the first time in the Premier League era.
3. Nuno Espirito Santo has a perfect record against Marco Silva in away games, winning all 3 of their encounters so far.
4. Wolves have come from behind to draw their game in their last 2 Premier League matches, with one of them being the draw against Manchester United.
5. Everton and Wolves have scored 1 and 2 goals each in the 2019-20 Premier League so far.
Player to Watch
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Everton lacked creativity against Aston Villa and if there is one man capable of alleviating that need, it is Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelandic star had a brilliant 2018-19 campaign and while he hasn’t gotten into his gears just yet this season, Sigurdsson will be the creative spark Everton need to ignite their attacking impetus.
Sigurdsson is yet to lodge a win in his career against Wolves in the three appearances against the Premier League side and will be gunning to improve his record.
Prediction
Everton 1-0 Wolves
Wolves’ record following a midweek fixtures needs no explanation. On the other hand, Everton will be buoyed after their win over Luton Town in the EFL Cup. While they were the heavy favourites, the win would have eased a lot of the pressure while it also provided Marco Silva with a glimpse of what the new signings can do.
With that being said, Wolves are no pushovers and will make it tough for Everton. The Toffees though, are likely to have more about them, having had more days and better depth in the squad to recuperate from the midweek fixture compared to Wolves. We are going with a narrow 1-0 win for Everton, but don’t be surprised by a draw.
