Wolves vs Everton – Analysis, Prediction, Team News
Saturday 20th May 2023
15:00 GMT
Molineux
As part of our weekend Premier League predictions, we examine Everton’s trip to Wolverhampton. Under the right circumstances, a win would be enough for Everton to secure their Premier League status for next season. Free betting tips and more with our Wolves vs Everton prediction.
Premier League Form:
Wolves
Man Utd
2-0 (A)
Aston Villa
1-0 (H)
Brighton
6-0 (A)
Crystal Palace
2-0 (H)
Leicester
2-1 (A)
Everton
Man City
3-0 (H)
Brighton
5-1 (A)
Leicester
2-2 (A)
Newcastle
4-1 (H)
Crystal Palace
0-0 (A)
Wolves vs Everton Preview
Wolves come into this match on the back of a very ordinary performance away to Manchester United which resulted in a 2-0 defeat. While like much of the division Wolves have a much better record at home, it was the manner of their defeat in which they had zero shots on target and were continually overrun in midfield that was most disappointing of all. Safe or not, it was their fifth defeat in six Premier League away matches, and the fact that they’ve picked up just 11 points in 18 away matches is the primary reason they’ve been in relegation trouble for much of the season.
Thankfully for Wolves, their home form has been much better – even going so far as to keep four consecutive clean sheets. In fact, all but one of their clean sheets this season have come at Molineux. By stark contrast with their poor away form, Wolves have earned 29 points in 18 games at home which is better than any other team in the bottom half. This excellent home form has ensured their Premier League survival as they sit 9 points ahead of 18th-place Leeds with just two games remaining.
Everton were, rather understandably, brought back down to Earth at home against Manchester City, with City registering a quickfire double towards the end of the first half. Everton had their chances to go ahead but were unable to capitalise, and when Gundogan added City’s third and his second early in the second half the game was effectively over. Everton continued to push for a way back into the match but ultimately City didn’t have to get out of third gear for the remainder of the game.
Premier League survival is still in Everton’s hands, and a win today combined with favourable results elsewhere would ensure their safety. Their final match at Goodison Park against Bournemouth, who are mathematically safe from relegation could prove to be a blessing as Bournemouth’s performances have, somewhat understandably, dipped following a herculean effort after the World Cup break from the south coast club to stave off relegation.
Team News
Injuries and Suspensions
Wolves:
Might Not Play: Traore
Will Not Play: Chiquinho, Kalajdzic
Everton:
Might Not Play: Davies, Mykolenko
Will Not Play: Coady, Coleman, Godfrey, Townsend, Vinagre
Wolves vs Everton Lineups (Predicted)
Wolves (4-4-2): Sa; Bueno, Collins, Kilman, Semedo; Neves, Lemina, Neto, Nunes, Cunha, Costa
Everton (4-3-3): Pickford; Holgate, Tarkowski, Mina, Patterson; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure; Iwobi, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
Wolves vs Everton Analysis
Wolves Will Look to Draw Everton Onto Them
In a departure from previous coaches, Lopetegui’s side don’t tend to have the majority of the ball even at Molineux. Wolves had 32% possession against Chelsea, 51% against Brentford, 41% against Crystal Palace and 38% against Aston Villa. With the exception of Chelsea, none of these sides are renowned for prioritising possession football and yet Wolves were able to lure them in with the aim of defending in a compact shape and transitioning quickly into attack.
All of which makes Wolves’ performance at Old Trafford all the more mystifying. They elected to press United high up the pitch instead, which was a high-risk option due to United’s impressive home form this season. As a result, their shape became stretched, they were overrun in midfield and frankly, they should’ve lost the game by a heavier margin. We expect that this was an aberration, a tactical miscalculation. Everton generally vary their distribution from the back, they do play out from the back when they have time to do so but any attempt at pressing will be met with direct balls to the channels or, if faced with a high line, centrally to Calvert-Lewin.
Everton Will Risk Stretching the Play in Wide Areas
A result here could ensure Everton’s Premier League survival, or at the very least ensure that it’s in their own hands on the final day of the season. Therefore, we’re expecting to see them getting the ball into the channels at every opportunity in order to create early crossing opportunities for the likes of Calvert-Lewin and the onrushing Doucoure. Everton have been proficient at creating via wing-play since Dyche came in, and with Wolves having already ensured their Premier League survival it remains to be seen if they will be suffering a performance hangover from their awful showing at Old Trafford.
The work in the channels will be hugely important for Everton because we don’t think that Wolves will give Everton much space in behind. Brighton did a terrible job at figuring out how to counteract that tactical wrinkle, but Wolves are more likely to defend deeper and attempt to force Everton to innovate. Everton’s best bet is to play the fast ball and to put in early crosses with defenders backpedalling towards goal. It’s risky in that Wolves will probably have a few prime opportunities for dangerous counterattacks but Everton need the result more than Wolves do.
Our Prediction
It’s tricky to balance Wolves’ excellent home form with just how poor they were at Old Trafford, plus the fact that, although no Premier League coach or player would ever admit it, they just don’t have much to play for having already ensured their Premier League survival.
Everton lost 3-0 to a side who are by far the best team in the Premier League at this moment in time, chasing a fifth Premier League title in six seasons. Two of those goals were of the highest quality and basically, there was little they could do. They can do an awful lot more in this match, and we’re backing them to take three points by the narrowest of margins.
Wolves 1-2 Everton
Wolves vs Everton Betting Tip – Everton Odds:
2.30
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