Everton lock horns with Wolves this week in what is a huge clash at the bottom of the Premier League table, even if it is still early days in the campaign.
- Date: 04/12/2024
- Kick-off time: 19:30
- Location: Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton come into this game sat 15th in the Premier League with 11 points from 13 games. Fans of the Toffees are having to endure a miserable season as they face the prospect of relegation to the Championship in what is a watershed season for the club - the final campaign at Goodison Park. Everton will move to their brand-new, purpose-built stadium on Liverpool's waterfront on Bramley-Moore Dock next season, so as they say goodbye to one of the most historic stadiums in English football, they're desperate to give the ground a proper sendoff. However, things seem to be going from bad to worse for the Toffees, with both results and performances on a very steep slide.
Manager Sean Dyche is under mounting pressure amidst the team's struggles, and it remains to be seen how long Dyche will retain his position in the Everton dugout. Once Everton's new owners take control of the club, it feels as though there is a decent chance that Dyche will be replaced as the club seeks to move in a different direction.
Any post-Dyche succession plan will probably need to involve investment in the squad in January if it's to be successful, though, and as things currently stand, it's doubtful as to whether the Friedkin Group's takeover will be finalised in time for that to happen.
Everton's squad is drastically short of difference-making quality and there's a very real chance that the club gets relegated this season. Having just paid for a new stadium, that would be an utter disaster, so games against sides like Wolves are of gargantuan importance.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are currently sit 18th in the Premier League with nine points from 13 games. Like Everton, it's been a rough campaign for Wolves so far and they come into this game with a manager under serious pressure. Gary O'Neil's side, while producing some impressive moments, have been poor on the whole and have bee guilty of some amateurish defending at times.
The underlying numbers surrounding Wolves' season so far are worrying, with O'Neil's men having an expected goals rate of 1.21xG per game, the fourth worst rate in the league, and an expected goals against rate of 1.71xGA per game, also the fourth worst rate in the league. Wolves have also conceded 32 goals this season, the most in the entire league, which really underscores how poor they've been at the back.
They have a number of players who've been impressive on an individual basis; Matheus Cunha has been very good, while new signing Jørgen Strand Larsen and left wing-back Rayan Aït-Nouri has been a menace. Quality in the squad is not a huge issue for Wolves, there's plenty of it, but the collective performances have not met the requisite standard.
It is, then, little surprise that O'Neil is under pressure, and despite the fact he's shown signs of dragging this team out of the doldrums, consistency is proving a major issue. Three points here would do wonders for his cause, but even in their poor form, Everton aren't easy to beat on their own patch.
Premier League 
