Everton v Wolves preview: Lopetegui makes Premier League bow
It hasn’t quite worked out that way for Frank Lampard’s side though, who seemingly find themselves embroiled in another relegation battle on the back of just one win in seven Premier League (PL) games prior to the World Cup break (D1, L5).
Returning to action on Boxing Day could be a good omen for kick-starting Everton’s bid to beat the drop as they’ve actually won their last three league games held on this day.
The visit of a Wolves side in even worse form than themselves might also be a welcome sight for Everton, despite losing both H2Hs versus the West Midlands outfit last season, and a clean sheet may hold the key to maintaining their winning trend on December 26th, given six of Everton’s last seven home league victories came ‘to nil’.
A new era dawns for this Wolves side who prop up the PL table, with former Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui taking over the Molineux reins, with this his PL bow.
Lopetegui will become just the 12th Spanish manager to manage in the PL, and with just one of the previous 11 losing their first game in the top-flight, there is a potential silver lining on the horizon for Wolves, who could record their first three-game winning streak over the Toffees since a run of five wins culminating in February, 1960.
The first task facing Lopetegui is to end Wolves’ five-match winless PL run (D1, L4), but that is perhaps easier said than done for the lowest scorers in the division who have just eight goals so far.
Not only would victory lift them off the foot of the table, but it would also see Lopetegui become the first Wolves manager since John Barnwell in November 1978 to win his first top-flight game in charge.
Key battle: Everton’s Alex Iwobi enjoys facing this opposition as three of his last five PL goals have arrived against Wolves. Trying to keep him out will be Wolves stopper José Sá who returns from the World Cup with four PL clean sheets to his name this season - he also kept one on his only prior visit to Goodison Park.
Hot stat: Wolves haven’t scored a PL goal after the hour mark this season.
