With Wolves still searching for their first points of the 2025/26 season, Vitor Pereira’s side host Everton this Saturday. Zackary Haynes previews the action.
Carabao Cup comeback
After a disappointing performance away at Bournemouth last weekend, the midweek cup comeback victory over West Ham should hopefully provide the perfect tonic in what was a morale-boosting victory. It felt like a much needed shot in the arm for both the fans and the players, having not tasted victory since last April.
Despite the transfer speculation surrounding him, it was good to see Jorgen Strand Larsen looking back to his best and bagging a brace. It was also good to see new signing, Jackson Tchatchoua, show glimpses of his frightening pace and provide an assist in what was an impressive cameo.
Our defence still looked susceptible but overall, a good win especially after making wholesale changes. It was made even sweeter the day after when realising that Wolves remain in more cup competitions than a certain Matheus Cunha.
Looking ahead to Everton
Having watched both of Everton’s Premier League games so far this season I feel like Wolves should definitely be targeting the three points. Against newly promoted Leeds United, they were poor throughout and created very little, although they only lost the game due to a contentious handball penalty decision. But Leeds were still deserved winners on the balance of play.
Against Brighton last weekend, there was definitely an improvement in their performance as you’d expect from them in their first game in their new stadium. However, the two nil win for Everton did not tell the full story.
Danny Welbeck missed an open goal early on which would have put Brighton ahead before Mitoma and Van Hecke both hit the woodwork. On the stroke of halftime, Pickford made a great save to deny Brighton a goal following a blind pass back pass from Tarkowski. Pickford also denied Welbeck from the penalty spot in the 77th minute which would have made for a tense finale.
On another day, Brighton would have won comfortably. For context, Brighton racked up 2.68 XG without finding the back of the net.
In terms of the danger men, Jack Grealish started and impressed against Brighton playing off the left and looked a throwback to his Villa days, carrying the ball, drawing fouls and providing two assists.
Big money signing from Southampton, Tyler Dibling, could get his first his first minutes for Everton whilst their top scorer from last season, Iliman N’Diaye, will also carry a threat and notched his first of the season against Brighton.
James Garner has been filling in for them as a makeshift left back which could be an area we look to exploit. However their first choice left back, Vitali Mykolenko, who is coming back from injury, did start their midweek cup victory over Mansfield and played 87 minutes.
I would expect Everton to sit deep and make the game scrappy and stop-start, with Wolves having the lion’s share of possession. The impetus will be on us to create and take the game to them.
Predicted XI
A lot will depend on the Jorgen Strand Larsen transfer news. At the time of writing, Larsen is reported to have asked for a move to Newcastle, but the stance from Wolves remains that he will not be sold in this window. If Newcastle do continue to improve their bids for him, it would certainly cause an unwanted distraction and Larsen may not be in the right headspace to play. Vitor Pereira has since stated in his press conference that he ‘hopes’ Larsen can play as he is dealing with a ‘small injury problem’…
Following Jackson Tchatchoua’s excellent cameo on Tuesday, I would expect him to come straight into the XI in place of Hoever who is an injury doubt anyway. I also think we could see Hugo Bueno potentially start ahead of Moller Wolfe given his greater attacking threat. However, I do think Vitor Pereira will stick with Moller Wolfe who was given a full rest midweek.
I’d expect Andre to be recalled and partner with Joao Gomes in the middle. I would also expect Marshall Munetsi to retain his place from last weekend to combat Everton’s physicality. I think we could also see Jhon Arias retain his place, having looked bright in midweek.
The game may come too soon for new signing Ladislav Krejčí to start but I would expect to see him named on the bench.
Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti; Tchatchoua, Andre, J. Gomes, Wolfe; Munetsi, Arias; Strand Larsen
Prediction
I believe it will be a tight and scrappy affair, but one that I think Wolves might edge based on Everton’s performances thus far this season. It will always be a tough game against a David Moyes side and their confidence will be fairly high coming off the back of two wins. I’m hoping to see a more controlled performance from ourselves with unforced errors being reduced as they have been a feature of our opening two games.
It is vitally important for us to get off the mark with a win to get some points on the board heading into the international break and the close of the summer transfer window.
