Everton welcome Wolves to Goodison Park in a relegation battle as the Premier League returns on Boxing Day.
The Toffees sit just outside of the relegation zone with one point keeping them ahead of Nottingham Forest. They have won just one of their last five league games and entered the World Cup break with an embarrassing defeat to Bournemouth.
Frank Lampard is already under pressure with fans turning on him of late and desperately needs a win to kickstart the club’s second half of the campaign.
Everton are without Andros Townsend and James Garner through injury, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is touch-and-go against Wolves, confirmed Frank Lampard in his pre-match presser.
Calvert-Lewin is set to train over the next couple of days before a decision is made on his availability, as the England international continues to be closely monitored following a knee problem. Meanwhile, defender Conor Coady is ineligible to face his parent club on Monday.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford is set to go straight back into the Everton starting XI after returning from World Cup duty. He will hope to start the second half of the season on a positive note by keeping a clean sheet against a blunt Wolves attack.
Defence
With Conor Coady ineligible to play when his parent club visit Goodison Park, Mason Holgate is the likely candidate to deputise in his absence at centre-back. Holgate should partner James Tarkowski at the back as the duo look to keep Wolves at bay.
James Patterson has been a breath of fresh air at right-back for Everton and should keep seasoned-campaigner Seamus Coleman out. Vitalii Mykolenko has been an ever-present in defence this season and is likely to retain his position at left-back.
Midfield
Alex Iwobi, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana must form the Everton midfield against Wolves. Gueye is likely to reprise his No.6 role, providing Onana and Iwobi with the license to march forward and add more numbers in attack.
Iwobi has arguably been Everton’s best player this season and deserves to start, while Onana’s physicality and power add a different dimension to their attacks from set-pieces.
Attack
Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon should flank Neal Maupay in the Everton attack against Wolves. Gray and Gordon will look to use their pace and flair to get behind the Wolves full-backs and create opportunities for Maupay to finish in the box.
Dwight McNeil will be a decent offensive option for Lampard to bring on in the second half. If Calvert-Lewin trains well over the next couple of days and is deemed fit, he could make an impact off the bench as well.
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