As 2023 draws to a close, Wolverhampton Wanderers gear up for a crucial Premier League clash against Everton at Molineux, eyeing their third consecutive victory.
Match Preview:
Wolves enter this fixture on the back of a dominant 4-1 win against Brentford, where Brentford defender Nathan Collins’s missteps played a pivotal role.
Hwang Hee-chan and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde capitalized on Collins’s errors, securing a comprehensive victory.
Wolves now aim to secure their third successive Premier League win, having climbed to 11th in the league standings after defeating Chelsea and Brentford.
However, Wolves face the challenge of breaking their year-end winless streak at Molineux, where they have remained scoreless in their last four games.
Despite this, the team remains unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games.
Everton, on the other hand, suffered a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City, marking their third consecutive loss.
Despite briefly holding a lead against the reigning champions, Everton succumbed to a second-half fightback. The Toffees are now 17th in the table, with their fate out of their hands.
History favors Wolves in this encounter, with Everton losing four of their last five Premier League meetings. Wolves emerged victorious in their August clash, securing a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.
Team News:
Wolves forward Hwang, who scored two goals against Brentford, suffered a back spasm but is expected to be available.
However, his participation against Everton remains uncertain. August’s match-winner Kalajdzic and Pedro Neto are on standby.
Craig Dawson and Jonny face assessments, while Fabio Silva and Boubacar Traore are doubtful due to illness.
For Everton, Idrissa Gueye is unlikely to recover from an unspecified injury, and Abdoulaye Doucoure continues to battle a thigh injury.
Ashley Young and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are expected to return to the starting lineup.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Wolverhampton Wanderers: (3-4-2-1)
Sa;
Kilman, Toti, S. Bueno;
Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri;
Bellegarde, Neto;
Cunha
Everton: (4-5-1)
Pickford;
Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko;
Harrison, Onana, Garner, Gomes, McNeil;
Calvert-Lewin
Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Everton
Wolves aim to capitalize on Everton’s recent struggles and secure another victory at Molineux.
Despite doubts surrounding Hwang’s availability, Wolves possess diverse goal threats, making them favorites to extend their winning streak while deepening Everton’s losing woes.