Everton vs Wolves preview: Marco Silva expecting hard examination
Saturday 2 February 2019 08:06, UK
Wolves will provide Everton with a good test when the two sides go head to head at Goodison Park on Saturday, according to Toffees manager Marco Silva.
Everton's form over the winter can best be described as patchy, but a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in midweek moved them up to eighth place in the Premier League, two points behind their opponents this weekend.
"(Wolves) will be a good test for us as a team, not just offensively or defensively," Silva said. "We have to be stronger as a team and stronger than them in all the moments of the match.
"We know they are strong in the counter-attack with a solid block and fast players. Every moment you have the ball and are trying to create you have to take care of that and have good balance."
Wolves, meanwhile, will be hoping to at least preserve their two-point advantage over Everton on Saturday.
"Nothing else matters," said manager Nuno Espirito Santo. "They are very strong. They have a strong squad, very talented players, a very good manager, a very tough stadium to go to; the atmosphere at Goodison Park is really tough for the opposing team and we expect a very difficult game."
Team news
Everton will check on the fitness of Idrissa Gueye and Leighton Baines, but defender Yerry Mina is set to miss out again.
Gueye, subject of a rejected offer from Paris St Germain in the final days of the January window, has been struggling with a groin problem, while Baines was substituted in the midweek win over Huddersfield with a rib injury.
Mina missed the match with a foot problem sustained last weekend against Millwall and will sit out again along with Phil Jagielka who has a muscle injury.
Wolves have Willy Boly back in contention for the trip to Merseyside. The centre back is available for selection again after serving a three-match ban and he is likely to be restored to the starting line up at the expense of Romain Saiss.
The visitors have no injury issues, but Nuno does now have a slightly reduced squad to work with after allowing Leo Bonatini and Dominic Iorfa to leave the club on Thursday.
Opta stats
- Everton have lost just one of their last 14 home matches against Wolves in all competitions (W8 D5), a 2-3 defeat in September 1979 in a top-flight encounter
- Five of the last seven Premier League meetings between Everton and Wolves have ended as draws, with the Toffees winning the other two in 2011
- Everton have won 21 of their last 25 home matches in all competitions in February (D3 L1)
- Everton have won 18 of their last 21 home Premier League matches against newly-promoted teams (D2 L1), winning each of their last 10 in a row
- Wolves have won 10 Premier League games this season - just one fewer than their highest tally in a single Premier League campaign, winning 11 in the 2010-11 season
- Wolves are looking to score three or more goals in three consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since March 1980
- Everton have won just one of their eight Premier League games this season against teams starting the day higher than them in the table (W1 D2 L5), losing the last four in a row
Charlie's predictions
I think Everton's biggest problem is defensively with Silva - he has chopped and changed his midfield, he has looked at the forward line and chopped and changed that, but defensively they still make basic errors. Tuesday was not just a win (at Huddersfield), but Pickford got a clean sheet, that was big news for them.
I have really enjoyed watching Wolves this season, they had a bit of a cold spell about six weeks ago, but they have come through that and are now picking up wins with some goals coming regularly with Jimenez and even Jota has been getting a few goals.
But the crowd can get on Everton's back normally after 15 minutes, so I'm going for another away win, with Jimenez - who has been on form in the last few months - on target again.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)
