Wolves erased an early deficit and stole a (very, very) late 2-1 victory over Everton as the Premier League returned to Goodison Park on Monday.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
The victory sees Wolves (13 points) climb out of last place in the Premier League table, up to 18th, now just one point behind West Ham United and Everton (14 points) on the other side of the all-important red line.
Yerry Mina gave Everton the lead after just seven minutes, when Dwight McNeil found the big Colombian defender with a corner kick to the near post. The advantage lasted only 15 minutes, as Joao Moutinho served up a sumptuous cross, and subsequent tap-in, to Daniel Podence at the back post. 1-1.
Everton had a handful of opportunities to reclaim the lead and the three points as they more than doubled Wolves’ xG output (1.58-0.72), but Jose Sa made five saves to keep things level and set the stage for what was to come in the 5th minute of stoppage time. Adama Traore sped down the right flank as three of his teammates flooded the goalmouth.
Rayan Ait-Nouri was the last of them to enter the penalty area, but he’s the one to whom the ball fell, and the 21-year-old left back hammered it past Jordan Pickford to send the away fans into raptures and give new manager Julen Lopetegui a winning debut.
How to watch Everton vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10 am ET, Monday, Dec. 26 (Boxing Day) Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Key storylines & star players
The lack of goals, points and wins cost Bruno Lage the Wolves job after just eight games, eventually replaced by Julen Lopetegui following a lengthy managerial search. Lopetegui was confirmed as Wolves’ new manager 34 after Lage was fired. Most recently the manager at Sevilla, where he won the Europa League in 2020, Lopetegui is set for his Premier League debut on Boxing Day.
Speaking of managers that (almost) didn’t survive the first half of the season, Lampard once again found himself under significant pressure as more and more defeats piled up for the Toffees. There was a 3-0 thumping of Crystal Palace in mid-October that bought him some extra time, though back-to-back defeats to 13th-place Leicester and 14th-place Bournemouth would seem to indicate that Everton are indeed serious relegation candidates this season.
Everton team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: James Garner (back), Andros Townsend (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Mason Holgate (knee)
Your Boxing Day Toffees!👇 #EVEWOL pic.twitter.com/VBnIGAMqcd
— Everton (@Everton) December 26, 2022
Wolves team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: Pedro Neto (ankle), Sasa Kalajdzic (torn ACL), Jonny (hamstring), Chiquinho (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Boubacar Traore (knock)
☝️ One change from Tuesday.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 26, 2022
🇰🇷 Hee-Chan returns to the XI.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/R3wyxmOToq
