Premier League 2018/19: Everton vs Wolves

Wolves cemented their grip on seventh place in the Premier League with a resounding 3-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park. Goals from Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker gave the Black Country side their first win away in the blue half of Merseyside since 1979. Andre Gomes restored parity for Marco Silva’s side midway through the first half, but it was Nuno Espirito Santo’s side who deservedly got the three goals and the all-important three points.

In this tactical analysis, we will focus on Wolves’ third goal  seeing as Neves’ goal was a penalty and Jimenez’s came from another Joao Moutinho set piece  Everton’s equaliser and a beautiful Belgian who continues to impress.

Team news

There were no shocks on either side. Perhaps the most surprising news was that Leighton Baines was passed fit and started for Everton. Rather unsurprisingly, he was substituted with the game still in the first half as Matt Doherty was getting the better of him with relative ease. This culminated in Wolves being awarded a penalty inside the first 10 minutes of the game and Neves beating Jordan Pickford from 12 yards.

Jonjoe Kenny was brought on for Baines and fared slightly better than the former Wigan man. However, it would ultimately be the wide areas which would cost Everton the game. Doherty’s penalty was won by bamboozling Baines on the Everton left and Wolves’ third came from Jonny Castro Otto’s hard work on the opposite flank.