Wolverhampton – Everton

Wolverhampton extend rival Liverpool’s streak of trouble

Who has already learnt dividends from Boxing Day is Wolverhampton. Just a week ago, the team was in fourteenth place and, going into the pitch against Chelsea, could drop even lower in the standings. However, two rounds in recent days have brought "wolves" victories in cases where they were not quoted as favourites. Such successes lifted the club to eleventh place and recorded in company with Chelsea and Bournemouth, who also scored 25 points each. Everton has been hot and cold since the start of the season. Then the team emphasises the extreme degree of unpreparedness for the championship, being in the relegation zone, then win four matches in a row, showing readiness to play against the strongest clubs in the Premier League. Before their last game of 2023, the Toffees are potentially back in the red zone as they are just one point ahead of Luton Town with a match in hand on the Hatters. Another misfire could send the Liverpool club to the eighteenth line of the standings. Bookmakers have not decided on the favourite of the upcoming meeting, offering the opponents about equal odds. Wolverhampton spends the current season as a real mid-table side. A distinctive feature of the club is a stable performance, in which even in losing meetings they score goals. Surprisingly, but at the end of the 21st official match of the season Wolverhampton only twice left the field without goals. Both matches took place away. The current month for Everton has become exemplary unstable. Staying in the relegation zone until the beginning of December, the team dramatically began to improve the situation. In just two weeks, the Toffees have managed to win four in a row without conceding a single goal. Among those defeated during this period were such clubs as Chelsea and Newcastle. But since 19 December, the Merseysiders have already issued the opposite development. In the middle of last week Everton flew Fulham out of the English League Cup, and Tottenham managed to score only a prestige goal - 1:2. Last round, the Blues in their home walls hosted Manchester City and scored in the gate of the champion first. However, Guardiola's wards showed class and inflicted Everton's third consecutive defeat. Apparently, the playing form of the guests will not allow them to win at Molineux.