Wolves piled more pressure on Everton boss Sean Dyche as Sasa Kalajdzic scored a late winner for the visitors at Goodison Park.
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For the first time in their history Everton have lost three games in a row to start a Premier League season (all without scoring a goal) as they sit rock bottom of the table and have big problems off the pitch as their perilous financial situation continues.
After Everton had goals disallowed and came up against an inspired Jose Sa in goal for Wolves, Kalajdzic jumped off the bench to score the winner as Gary O’Neil’s side picked up their first win and points of the season.
Same old story for slumping Toffees
This was so similar to Everton’s opening weekend home defeat to Fulham it was scary. And that start to the new Premier League season will be giving Evertonians everywhere nightmares.
Are they unlucky? Yes. Are they feeling sorry for themselves? Yes. Are the fans angry? Yes. All of that adds up to a treacherous situation.
Sean Dyche’s side worked hard and carved out opportunities but they snatched at them as they have yet to score this season and the pressure appears to be getting to this injury-hit Everton squad.
Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin and McNeil returning to this lineup improves it massively but due to their financial situation this squad is so thin that you do worry about how bad things will get in the early months of the season. They simply have to win away at Sheffield United next weekend to get some kind of positive momentum before the international break.
A win in their next game, plus signing a striker or two in the final days of the transfer window if their financial situation allow it, has to happen to give Everton a chance of not being embroiled in a relegation battle for a third-straight season.
What’s next?
Everton travel to Sheffield United on Saturday, Sept. 2 in what already looks like a massive relegation six-pointer. Wolves travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday, Sept. 3.
How to watch Everton vs Wolves live, start time, live stream link
Kick off: 10 am ET, Saturday (August 26)
TV channel: Peacock
Online: Watch live on Peacock Premium
Abdoulaye Doucoure went so close to being the hero for Everton but he was left frustrated with another defeat despite dominating vast swathes of the game.
“It’s very difficult to take,” Doucoure told the BBC. “I think we were the better team, but as we know, we need to be clinical. We need to score that goal. We need to be more clinical. Wolves were not in the best shape today. We need to be more aggressive around the box.”
He was also asked about being booed off by the Everton fans.
“The supporters come each week to support us and we need to give something back. At the moment, we don’t. We need to take responsibility. At the moment, the team is fighting. We need more from each other.”
Oh dear. Boos ring out at Goodison as Everton have been beaten for the third game in a row to start the Premier League season.
That has never happened in their history.
This was very similar to their home defeat to Fulham on the opening weekend as they dominated play but Wolves struck late on to secure their first points of the season.
Surely the winner!
What a moment for Wolves but Everton are absolutely sick with conceding that late goal.
Smash and grab? Yep, it has happened to the Toffees again.
Doucoure has the ball in the back of the net... but it is disallowed.
VAR checks it and it is the right decision.
Take a bow Jordan Pickford and Jose Sa.
Everton and Wolves both going for it late on as Fabio Silva should have scored moments after having a goal disallowed but he made a mess of his finish.
Jordan Pickford then denied Pedro Neto’s deflected free kick with a brilliant stop and at the other end Jose Sa denied Danjuma.
Sa then makes a superb stop as he pushed Doucoure’s looping header over the bar.
Can anyone find a late winner?
There haven’t been many chances for Wolves but Fabio Silva does have the ball in the back of the net… but is ruled out.
The Toffees are pushing hard but Jose Sa continues to thwart them.
Everton’s Garner and Branthwaite are denied and Wolves hack clear.
The Toffees have had all of the chances but have just snatched at them.
Sean Dyche will be happy with that first half but the longer this stays 0-0, you fancy Wolves could create some chances on the counter.
A really tight one at Goodison between two teams who are desperate for a win.
The home fans are really getting behind their team and it has been a positive start from Everton.
After going close with a header early on, Arnaut Danjuma was just played in and looked certain to score but Jose Sa stood tall and got a slight flick on Danjuma’s effort as it hit the post and Wolves clear.
However, the flag did go up against Danjuma for offside. Still, he should have tucked that away.
A shot from a corner has also been deflected but Sa saves again and from a good position Tarkowski smashes the rebound wide.
Two changes for Wolves from their home defeat against Brighton as Bueno and Hwang come in.
This is a very attack-minded team from Wolves with plenty of forwards and attacking midfielders on the pitch. Let’s see if one of them can finish off the numerous chances they’ve been creating.
✌️ Two changes from #WOLBHA.
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 26, 2023
➡️ Bueno & Hwang into the XI.
How we line-up to face @Everton.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/2yJwOQhAem
Jarrad Branthwaite starts in defense for Everton and new signing Arnaut Danjuma is also in from the start.
Young forward Lewis Dobbin also gets a start in attack as the Toffees are really struggling for defensive options.
Today's Toffees! 🔵#EVEWOL pic.twitter.com/wOnfjaf67m
— Everton (@Everton) August 26, 2023
Gary O’Neil is only without one player as Matheus Nunes is suspended after picking up two yellow cards against Brighton.
Nunes has also been the subject of interest from Manchester City but Wolves rejected a bid of close to $60 million.
Wolves could bring Pablo Sarabia and Hwang Hee-chan into the starting lineup.
Everton have been trying to sign a new forward for most of this week as they haggle with Southampton over a transfer fee for Che Adams.
Forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered a fractured cheekbone at Aston Villa last weekend as his injury nightmare continues. He will miss this game.
New signings Arnaut Danjuma and Youssef Chermiti could feature with the former surely pushing for a start, while loan signing Jack Harrison is still a few weeks away from returning.
Seamus Coleman, Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi are all out injured too as Dyche has some real issues to sort out in midfield.
