Mark Lawrenson predicts result of Everton Premier League clash v Wolves on Boxing Day
Mark Lawrenson believes the Goodison Park crowd could be the difference when Everton face off against Wolves on Boxing Day.
The Toffees currently sit one point above the relegation zone with just 11 goals scored in their 15 games so far this season, while Wolves sit at the bottom of the table with a new manager in charge for the game.
But while making his predictions for Paddy Power (22 December), Lawrenson acknowledged that the crowd on Merseyside will be big and thinks that Frank Lampard’s side will come away with a 2-1 win.
“This will be Julen Lopetegui’s first game as Wolves manager even though he’s been there six weeks,” he wrote.
“Wolves are another side who won’t have had too many players away and they will have had a bit of a pre season even though we’re in December.
“But with a big crowd at Goodison, I’ll go 2-1 to Everton.”
Needed
Everton have had a difficult and rough ride of things so far in the Premier League, with just one win in the last nine games in all competitions before the World Cup break.
Defensively the team had issues in the weeks leading up to the tournament but prior to that they were solid and their biggest issue was in front of goal, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin seemingly always injured and Neal Maupay only scoring once since his move from Brighton.
But the first game back coming against the team bottom of the league couldn’t be any better for Lampard and co, with a shoddy defence and poor attack themselves.
However with a new manager in place it will be a different Wolves side than the first half of the campaign, and Everton will have to ensure they’re at their best to get anything from the game and get off to a good start while moving away from the relegation zone.