WATCH FOR OUR PREDICTIONS & THOUGHTS AHEAD OF WOLVES V EVERTON
TEAM NEWS
Wolves’ top scorer Matheus Cunha has started a three-game ban after being sent off for violent conduct during their FA Cup loss to Bournemouth last weekend. The FA has also charged the Brazilian with misconduct over his reaction to the red card, which could lead to a longer suspension.
Goncalo Guedes, Marshal Munetsi, Emmanuel Agbadou, Rodrigo Gomes and Jean Ricner Bellegarde have all trained this week.
Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure is back in the squad after missing the match against Brentford to be with his family for the birth of his son.
However, Everton are still dealing with five injured players. Manager David Moyes mentioned that Armando Broja might have a slim chance of playing this weekend, but it’s more likely he’ll return after the international break.
VITOR PEREIRA
There were positive team news updates from the Wolves boss to start: “[Emmanuel] Agbadou is ready to help us. [Marshall] Munetsi is ready, [Goncalo] Guedes is ready, Rodrigo [Gomes] is ready, [Jean-Ricner] Bellegarde too. I’m very happy and positive for this game.”
On Matheus Cunha being charged by the FA and how long he expects to be without him: “I’m not creating expectations because I don’t control the decision. He admitted the mistake, for sure. He has a good personality. He is a good boy.”
He continued: “It was a bad moment. That moment affects him, the club, the supporters. He has given a lot to us until now. It means that this is the moment to support him. He needs to learn from the mistake but now – as a coach, as a team, as a club – we need to support him and help him to come [back] stronger. He has a strong personality and we all have bad times in life.”
On facing Everton: “They are doing fantastic work but my focus is on my team. It is the only thing I can control. We will face a good team who are competing with every team. We need to play our game and correct some behaviour from the last game.”
Pereira had a message for the fans: “We are in a critical, important moment of the season and we need to make our supporters proud. They must show us the spirit of the wolf. We need to be connected, feel the energy to fight and play. It will be a battle and I want to see my team with character.”
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Head-to-head
Wolves have lost just one of their last seven Premier League home games against Everton, winning this fixture 3-0 last season.
They last won consecutive home league matches against the Toffees in 2004.
Everton’s 4-0 win in December ended a six-game winless run against Wolves. The Toffees can complete a Premier League double for only the second time in this fixture.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have lost 15 of their last 22 Premier League home games, a run stretching back to February 2024. Their previous 15 league defeats at Molineux came over the course of 45 fixtures between October 2021 and December 2023.
They have lost six of their last eight top-flight matches.
Wolves have lost nine of their 10 home league games in which they have fallen behind this season.
Joao Gomes has been directly involved in four Premier League goals for Wolves this term, scoring three and assisting one – as many as in his previous two seasons in the competition combined.
Nelson Semedo has provided four assists in 23 Premier League appearances this season, as many as in his previous four campaigns and 131 matches.
Everton
Everton have amassed 15 Premier League points since David Moyes returned to the club in January, with only Liverpool earning more in that time.
They are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches, their longest run without defeat since December 2017.
Everton have triumphed in just one of their 23 Premier League matches without Abdoulaye Doucoure since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, but have won 33.8% of games when he has been involved.
Everton have scored 63% of their Premier League goals this season in the first half – only Ipswich have a higher share.
The Toffees have conceded a league-low 32% of their total goals before half-time this term.
Everton average nearly a shot fewer per league game under Moyes than Sean Dyche this season but have an average expected goals total of 1.5, compared his predecessor’s figure of 1.
Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom have the highest expected goals totals of any players yet to score in the Premier League this season, with 2.9 and 2.1 respectively.
James Tarkowski made his 103rd consecutive appearance in the Premier League for Everton in the draw at Brentford, a club record for any outfield player.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Natalie Aspinall. Fourth official: Tom Bramall. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Dan Cook.
MATCH INFO
Kick off is 8pm at Molineux on Saturday 8th march and will be live on TNT Sports in the UK.