The stage is set for Wolves to take on arguably their biggest game of the Premier League season as they travel to Everton.
From the highs of beating Southampton and Fulham, Wolves are now looking to bounce back from their 4-2 defeat against Bournemouth last weekend.
It was a match that was marred by individual errors from the Old Gold, who conceded three penalties, with Jose Sa criticised for his awful display.
As a result, calls for Gary O’Neil to be sacked grew even louder and that has amplified the importance of their relegation six-pointer against Everton.
With the pressure piling on O’Neil to deliver results, he’s called on his senior players to step up and make themselves heard at Goodison Park.
Enes Unal of Bournemouth is stopped by Mario Lemina of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC a...
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
The five Wolves players who need to step up vs Everton
In the heat of a relegation battle, the senior players are often the ones who need to take ‘big responsibility’, as explained by O’Neil to the E&S.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Wolves boss has pinpointed five stars who he expects to help deliver them three points on Merseyside, including Matheus Cunha, Jose Sa, Craig Dawson, Nelson Semedo and captain Mario Lemina.
“Mario, Matheus, Dawson, Jose and Nelson needs to take big responsibility in those moments. The ones that have played in a lot of big games at a high level.
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“You’re relying on those guys to make sure they get a hold of it at that stage. They are aware of it, everyone at this stage is doing their best to handle all the situations that we’re facing.”
Lemina has already sent an ‘honest’ message to his Wolves teammates ahead of the six-pointer, calling for them to erase the Bournemouth result from their minds.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Sa is in line to start against Everton, despite him dropping multiple clangers on Saturday and Sam Johnstone waiting in the wings.
Gary O’Neil could get sacked if Wolves lose to Everton
These are the games Wolves simply have to avoid losing if they are to stay in the Premier League.
Losing – or even worse – getting rolled over by Everton would not only plunge them deeper into trouble but could also cost O’Neil his job.
Dropping points in this fixture is an outcome supporters don’t want to think about, but if they do, the noise to sack the manager would perhaps be too much to bear.
Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is close to being sacked by West Ham, and the Wanderers head to the London Stadium next weekend.
Indeed, failure to beat Everton or the Hammers would surely place O’Neil at a point of no return, with Fosun showing him the exit door.
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