Jeff Stelling predicts Everton v Wolves for Sky Sports as Premier League returns
Jeff Stelling believes Everton will edge out Wolves in a low-scoring affair on Boxing Day, as the Premier League returns after the Qatar World Cup.
The Toffees will re-start their campaign just a solitary point above the relegation zone and will be without on-loan Conor Coady, who is illegible to play against his parent club.
They face a Wolves side who remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table – four points behind Everton – but have been boosted by the appointment of Julen Lopetegui as manager at Molineux.
According to Sky Sports pundit Stelling though for Super 6, Lopetegui won’t get the new-manager bounce he so desperately needs, and Lampard’s side will instead pick up all three points.
The Soccer Saturday host believes Everton will claim a crucial 1-0 victory at Goodison Park.
Momentum builder
For Everton, the festive period could be a season-defining few weeks and the Boxing Day fixture already has a ‘six-pointer’ feel to it.
With both sides languishing in and around the relegation zone, nicking three points from a direct rival would prove a seismic boost before a typically busy part of the season.
For Lampard, a result is desperately needed o Boxing Day as his side travels to the Etihad Stadium before the New Year.
If the Toffees were to lose this match and consequently struggle against the Premier League champions, they might well find themselves in the bottom three heading into 2023.
The absence of Conor Coady will be a huge blow to Lampard, and picking a suitable replacement could prove tricky. Is Yerry Mina fit enough to start? Can he trust Michael Keane to perform at the heart of his defence?
It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the English manager switch to a back-five in Coady’s absence and look to nick three points on the counter in what should be an evenly-matched encounter.