It’s an entertaining game at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday where Everton and, Wolverhampton Wanderers clash after both teams shipped four goals at the weekend.
Given the depth of dissatisfaction within two of the divisions most partisan fanbases, and managers under significant pressure to succeed, it can certainly be viewed as a game which is must-win for both, arguably one of the biggest midweek fixtures currently fixed on the calendar.
Given the 4-0 loss at Manchester United on Sunday, it appears that the rosy glasses are off the Everton supporters regarding Sean Dyche’s position at the club at unless his side can stage something of miraculous this month.
When The Friedkin Group takes over this month it will be assumed that Dyche cannot command the fans’ popularly as was evident by Everton’s away end at Old Trafford being nearly empty after half time at the weekend.
December in particular could be tough for Everton, with away games against Arsenal and Manchester City and home games against Chelsea and local rivals and league leaders Liverpool which underlines how crucial it was for Everton to come away from this game with three points.
Dyche’s side are two points clear of the relegation places after garnering only 11 points from the first 13 matches – the worst start to a season in the Premier League since 1994.
Not that the grim figures stop there, however, because the 4-0 loss on Sunday was the fifth time Everton have been on the receiving end of a four-goal rout under Dyche in just 58 league games.
In other words – David Moyes was managing nearly seven times more Premier League games, and only in seven of those games, he got a similar fate.
Despite taking 69 shots and creating an xG value of 4.5 during that period, the Toffees' four-match scoreless streak, which has been their worst in nearly three years, is being caused by a lack of quality in the last third.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Everton has the lowest scoring total in the division. The team's inability to generate opportunities during open play is another item that irritates the fans.
Wolves haven't had much success since their last away victory in August of last year, and they lost 3-0 during the holiday season.
After a very tough start, Gary O'Neil's team's schedule improved significantly on paper. However, Wolves undid all of that hard work on Saturday when they lost 4-2 at home to Bournemouth, despite defeating Fulham 4-1 the previous week.
The Molineux supporters jeered the team as the final whistle blew, ending their four-game winning streak. The Cherries were hilariously awarded three penalties by defensive mishaps.
With 32 goals given up so far, Wolves' defense is by far the most vulnerable in the Premier League; Leicester City's 27 goals is the next worst.
It will be an interesting matchup against the league's weakest attack because the visitors haven't kept a clean sheet away from home since January, and their only clean sheet came in a victory over bottom-place Southampton.
handed their attacking difficulties, they are in dire need of another attacking option. On Sunday, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was benched for the first time this season, and Beto was handed an opportunity right away.
Another attacker who is getting close to making a comeback is Youssef Chermiti, but he is still a few weeks behind Broja in his recuperation, and James Garner, a key midfield player, has not yet resumed full training.
