An in-form Wolves host Everton at the Molineux, with both sets of managers looking to end 2023 on a high note.
Gary O’Neil continues to prove he is one of the top managers around, as the form of his Wolves side will testify. The Midlands side are in a rampant run of form and look set to end the year on a high note. The game at home against Everton will be the last in the Premier League for a while for Wolves, as they next take on Brighton on January 23. But before that, they have an FA Cup clash against Brentford.
Since losing to West Ham in London, O’Neil’s side have beaten Chelsea at home and then Brentford away, with the result against the Bees especially monumental in determining their current form. A brace from Hwang Hee-chan sandwiched between goals from Mario Lemina and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, proved enough as a Yoane Wissa strike early on only proved to be a consolation of sorts.
Now they do have a tricky clash against a resurgent Everton side, who have not been at their best recently but can hurt any opposition on their day. O’Neil will want his players to maintain focus and remain in charge of their destiny, as they can finish the calendar year inside of the top half if everything goes in their direction.
Since going on a four-game winning run without conceding a single goal, Everton have found themselves in a familiar territory around the foot of the table. Since their 2-0 win over Burnley, the Toffees have lost three on the bounce in all competition, with the latest one coming against champions Manchester City.
Jack Harrison’s strike to open the scoring against his former side saw Manchester City respond emphatically through a stunning Phil Foden strike to bring the scores level. Julian Alvarez then converted a penalty, and then Bernardo Silva capitalised on a Jordan Pickford error to put the game to bed.
Back-to-back losses in the league to Tottenham and then Manchester City have brought Everton back near the relegation zone. Only a point separates the Toffees from 18th-placed Luton Town, who have a game in hand. Things could get tricky with another bad result for Sean Dyche, who would undoubtedly prefer to finish the calendar year outside of the bottom three.
Team News & Tactics
Wolves
The win over Brentford might have come at a significant cost for Wolves heading into the Everton game. The top scorer, Hwang Hee-chan, was forced off with an injury and remains doubtful for the upcoming clash. The South Korean may yet go through a late assessment before O’Neil takes the final call.
Similarly, Craig Dawson will also be assessed due to knee lacerations, which could probably mean the defender might sit this one out. Beyond that, only Boubacar Traore remains a doubt, while Jonny remains out of the first team plans owing to a training incident. Meanwhile, Wolves agreed to a deal with Rangers to loan out Fabio Silva, so he won’t be selected.
On the team selections, O’Neil will only look to make a few changes, with the same back-three of Max Kilman, Santiago Bueno, and Toti Gomes set to start. There are no changes expected ahead of the defence, with Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri primed for the wingback roles.
O’Neil will once again place great emphasis on his midfield partnership with Joao Gomes and Lemina hitting a superior vein of form. The latter has also scored in his last two games in a row, so he’s one to watch out for. Up front, with Hwang doubtful, it could open the door for Pedro Neto or Sasa Kalajdzic, although the former has more chances of starting after a long period out.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Jose Sa; Kilman, Bueno, T.Gomes; Semedo, Lemina, Joao Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Neto; Cunha
Everton
Sean Dyche will have to assess his options before making the final selection call for the trip to Wolves. Some injury troubles are growing in the background, as the manager suddenly finds a few critical stars missing from action.
Abdoulaye Doucoure remains out of contention for the time being, while Dyche confirmed the prognosis of Idrissa Gueye’s unspecified injury did not look so good. Luckily for Everton, Andre Gomes has hit the ground running since making his return, so he should keep a place in that midfield.
Ashley Young could also miss the clash, although Seamus Coleman seemed fit enough to make the bench last time out so that he could start. The veteran replacement, Nathan Patterson, might be the only change to the backline.
Amadou Onana will continue to operate at the midfield base, with Gomes and James Garner on either side. Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will start on either wing, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin could replace Beto, who started against Manchester City.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Andre Gomes, Onana, Garner, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin
Key Stats
- Wolves are undefeated in their last five matches against Everton in all competitions.
- Wolves have won their last two Premier League games.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in nine of Wolves’s last 11 games in the Premier League.
- Since winning four games in a row, Everton has lost their last three in all competitions.
- Everton are only a single point above the relegation zone.
Player to Watch
Joao Gomes
Gary O’Neil has placed great importance on his central midfield pairing on how he likes to play football at Wolves. The strength and control provided by Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes give his attackers and wing-backs the platform from which to build. In the game against Brentford, the Gomes put in a masterful performance, which the manager hopes to see every week.
Gomes made ten tackles in a single Premier League game, a record of sorts, as his presence allows Lemina to venture forward and take up good positions. The Brazilian must be at his best against Everton, who are also heavily reliant on a physical midfield battle.
Prediction
Wolves 2-1 Everton
The Toffees may have lost their last two games, but they kept performing well and carried on the form that saw them win four on the bounce recently. Yet, Everton face the challenge of getting something out against Wolves of Molineux, which has been rocking over the last few days.
Gary O’Neil’s well-drilled side can face up to the challenge of Sean Dyche and his physical Everton side. Keeping in mind the home comforts for the Wolves, they might nick a victory here, even when they might miss top scorer Hwang Hee-chan from the lineup. This game does point towards a Wolves victory, but Dyche and his charges can always spring up a surprise.