Starting Lineups
After that horrendous showing at Old Trafford, Sean Dyche had to ensure that the Everton midfield was strengthened for the game against Wolves for whom Matheus Cunha has been pulling the strings in the middle.
Out went Jesper Lindstrom with Orel Mangala replacing him, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned for Beto.
For the visitors, Gary O’Neil made four changes to the team that was beaten 4-2 at home by AFC Bournemouth.
First Half
Wolves started well with Cunha keeping the Blues alert, Pickford made a fine low save to his left. Strand Larsen passed up on two golden opportunities where he had escaped both James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, but the Blues were fortunate.
The Toffees have struggled to create much from open play, but where they have been different this season is that they have been unable to make much of their setpiece opportunities. All that changed tonight against Wolves’ wretched defending.
With just ten minutes played, DCL was fouled on the edge of the box. Ashley Young stepped up and curled the ball around the wall to beat Jose Sa and the Blues led 1-0. That goal made Young the oldest player in the Premier League to score from a direct freekick, and the fourth oldest scorer overall.
Minutes later it was 2-0 from a freekick as Tarkowski got on the end of McNeil cross. However, a lengthy VAR review determined that Orel Mangala was in an offside position when he obstructed Mario Lemina to allow the Everton captain to score.
The Blues were not to be denied though, as another similar freekick saw Vitaliy Mykolenko’s shot blocked and the rebound came to Mangala who made amends for his previous indiscretion to make it two-nil.
The scoreline stayed that way until halftime with the Toffees doing enough to keep Wolves away from the Blues’ goal.
Everton FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Second Half
Everton took a lot of flak against Manchester United for conceding the third goal on Sunday just twenty seconds after halftime. Tonight, they made Wolves pay in that manner.
A corner from the right was delivered perfectly by McNeil and with Ndiaye’s attentions distracting Sa, DCL got a head to the ball but it went in off Craig Dawson to make it 3-0.
The Toffees weren’t quite done though, when in the 72nd minute another fine delivery from McNeil was put in through his own net once again by Dawson. DCL had dived with him but didn’t actually get a touch on the ball this time, but the score was 4-0 and the job was done.
Armando Broja came on to make his Everton debut, and he well could have had a goal or two for himself with his willingness to get the ball and take on his man. His energy and pace could be telling as DCL’s dry spell continues.
Everton FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Premier League Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Final Thoughts
A much-needed confidence boost after a horrendous showing against United over the weekend. Erasing that four-goal deficit from the goal difference column will also be important.
Orel Mangala simply has to play every minute from here on out. Composed on the ball, popping up everywhere on the left from defence all the way to the forward line, he was immense today.
Setpiece specialist Dwight McNeil has been criticized recently, and he got the monkey off his back tonight with some spectacular deliveries. The score could easily have been six or more and no one would have blinked.