Prediction: Everton vs Wolves

Prediction: Wolves win

Best Odds: 43/20

Bookmaker: 888sport

The Premier League is back in our lives after a month away as we gear up for a set of classic Boxing Day fixtures. All twenty teams in the top flight have had time to sit back and reflect on how their season has gone thus far, and now, it’s time to try and take the next step forward. Today, we’ll take a look at what could easily be described as a relegation six-pointer between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Everton

A club like Everton, who have never been relegated from the Premier League, shouldn’t be floating towards the bottom three. Alas, that’s the position they find themselves in for the second straight year, and Frank Lampard has a lot of work to do. The Toffees are solid when they’re at their best but unless they get something going in January, they could easily start slipping away from safety.

Team News

Garner and Holgate have both been ruled out through injury whereas Calvert-Lewin and Townsend are seen as fitness concerns.

Wolves

The introduction of Julen Lopetegui has been vital for the Wolves fanbase as they attempt to kickstart a run that, they hope, will see them vault away from 20th – which is where they currently sit. This club has been on quite the journey in the last few years but if they aren’t careful, they could head back down to the Championship, which isn’t the kind of place their rich owners envisaged them being not so long ago.

Team News

Costa is suspended with Chiquinho, Neto, Jonny and Kalajdzic all being on the shelf through injury. Elsewhere, Boubacar Traore is a fitness doubt.

Factors to Consider

• In their last meeting back in March, Wolves beat Everton 1-0.
• Everton have won one, drawn one and lost four of their last six games.
• Wolves have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six games.
• Everton have scored four goals and conceded 10 in their last six games.
• Wolves have scored six goals and conceded 10 in their last six games.

Conclusion

We expect this to be quite a fast-paced affair between two sides who are in desperate need of salvation. Off the back off a lively Goodison Park crowd, Everton will be able to gain the upper hand and perhaps even take the lead – before Wolves, under their new regime, level things up. Then, in the second half, the boys from the Black Country will take the lead and hold onto it to claim all three (valuable) points.

Prediction: Wolves win

Best Odds: 43/20

Bookmaker: 888sport