Home comforts needed as Everton welcome Wolves

Everton will be hoping to put Monday night’s 5-0 thrashing at Tottenham Hotspur firmly behind them as they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the Toffees remaining outside of the bottom three at kick-off on Sunday, they cannot afford a repeat of the wretched display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs had been inconsistent in recent weeks and Blues fans might have been quietly confident of getting a result, but those hopes were soon dashed as the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min tore the Everton defence apart.

Michael Keane scored an own-goal and was taken off at half-time due to a fever. The central defender has endured a difficult few weeks but should retain his place this weekend with Ben Godfrey in contention to partner him after returning from an injury lay-off.

Everton have not won away from home in the league since August and will be grateful to be back on home soil when Wolves are the visitors.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin now back and Demarai Gray fit again, there is a chance for Everton to try and gain some momentum and steer themselves in the opposite direction.

The Toffees have played fewer games than their rivals in the relegation places but games in hand are no guarantees and they’ll only be filled with pressure should this current malaise continue.

Wolves themselves have not been quite at the races recently and this looked, on paper at least, a game that Everton boss Frank Lampard might target, but a 4-0 victory over Watford in midweek should see the Midlands outfit full of confidence once again.

Bruno Lage’s side have struggled in recent weeks after briefly flirting with Champions League qualification but a possible route to the Europa Conference League is still on the cards and three points at Goodison Park would go a long way to reviving those hopes.

As for Everton a difficult run-in awaits, with a trip to Anfield and a final-day visit to the Emirates Stadium still to come.

Two home games this week, with the second against a resurgent Newcastle United, offer at least some hope to get out of trouble.

With the likes of Norwich City and Watford in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom, it could be a case that  Everton only need to be better than one other side to stay up.

The fact that a club of that stature is even in that predicament is a story for another day but now is the time for answers, not questions. Sunday has the look of a pivotal day.

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