Everton vs Wolves: Premier League Preview, Gameweek 17, 2022

Julen Lopetegui will get his first taste of Premier League football on Boxing Day as his Wolves side travel to Goodison Park.

Everton vs Wolves: Premier League Preview, Gameweek 17, 2022
Everton's Seamus Coleman competing with Wolves' Raul Jimenez in November 2021. (Photo Credits: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
billy-dobson
By Billy Dobson

Boxing Day will see the return of Premier League football after a seven week hiatus. 

Everton play host to Wolves at Goodison Park in what can already be described as a relegation 'six-pointer'. 

Both sides have had a lacklustre start to the season, with Everton sitting in 17th, four points ahead of the visitors who prop up the table.

The game will see a new beginning for Wolves as recently appointed manager Julen Lopetegui takes charge of his first league game. 

The Spaniard was in charge of Tuesday's 2-0 EFL Cup victory over League Two Gillingham

Everton have not played a competitive game since a 3-0 loss away to Bournemouth in November. 

Toffees boss Frank Lampard will be hoping to bounce back with a win after his players were booed off the pitch at the Vitality Stadium.

The sides last met in March as Wolves won 1-0 at Goodison Park. Now Everton man Conor Coady netted the only goal of the match.

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  • Team News

Everton

The Toffees will be without Coady this week as the England defender is ineligible to feature against his parent club. Michael Keane is expected to come into the starting 11.

Manager Lampard is not yet sure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin's availability. Although a return to action is imminent, Monday's clash may come too soon for the striker.

Everton's number nine missed their last two games before the international break. 

Andros Townsend has suffered a setback while recovering from an ACL injury and will not be available over the festive period. 

Wolves

Both Jonny and Boubacar Traore missed the midweek victory over Gillingham but have returned to training in the past few days.

20-year-old fullback Hugo Bueno has impressed since his introduction to the side, keeping his spot ahead of Jonny and Rayan Ait Nouri.

Diego Costa has served his three match suspension after a red card against Brentford. The Spaniard will be competing with midweek goal scorer Raul Jimenez a spot in the side. 

Wolves are still without Pedro Neto, Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho to long term injuries.

  • Likely Line-ups

Everton

Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana; Gordon, Maupay, Gray (4-3-3)

Wolves

Sa; Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno; Neves, Nunes, Moutinho; A. Traore, Jimenez, Podence (4-3-3)

  • Key Players

Alex Iwobi

Monday's game is well-balanced clash that can be won or lost in midfield. Alex Iwobi has had a renaissance under Lampard, moving into a central area and directly impacting the flow of the game.

The Nigerian has the ability to run at a stretched Wolves midfield, as well as being able to operate in half spaces and draw Nelson Semedo out of position. 

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If Iwobi can produce another dynamic performance, it will cause Ruben Neves to focus on stopping Iwobi rather than starting attacks for the visitors.

The 26-year-old has one goal and five assists in 15 Premier League appearances this season.

Raul Jimenez

Raul Jimenez has not featured in a Premier League match since the end of August, leading the line in a drab 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.

With three league appearances to his name this season, Jimenez will need to be revived by boss Lopetegui. 

If the striker does start, he will be hoping to target Everton's make shift back line in the absence of Coady. If Costa leads the line, Jimenez will hope to cause issues from the bench late in the game. 

A return to form for Jimenez would spark positivity around Molineux, possibly acting as a catalyst for an escape from the relegation zone.

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  • Match Details

Where is the game being played?

The game will take place at Goodison Park, the home of Everton. 

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off is at 3pm on Monday 26th December, 2022.

How can I watch?

The game will not be on live TV due to the 3pm Blackout Laws, however highlights will be available on Match of the Day and the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel.