Mark Lawrenson predicts outcome of Everton crunch clash v Wolves in Premier League
Mark Lawrenson has predicted that Everton will edge one point closer to safety with a 1-1 draw against Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday (20 May).
The Toffees arrive into the clash at the Molineux Stadium on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, which left the club just one point above the relegation zone with two games of the season remaining.
Sean Dyche revealed that he will be without six first-team players for the clash, including left-back Vitalii Mykolenko, but talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to be fit enough to feature.
“Wolves are safe now but this is a massive game for Everton,” Lawrenson wrote in his weekly column for Paddy Power (18 May).
“I fancy they’ll get a point.”
Brush off Manchester City defeat
Although a 3-0 scoreline is never pretty reading at this stage of the season, there was little Everton could really do to keep a simply sublime Manchester City at bay.
Pep Guardiola’s side are an unstoppable juggernaut right now and showed just how much worse it could have been for the Toffees by putting four past Champions League-holders Real Madrid on Wednesday evening (17 May).
The trip to the Molineux Stadium doesn’t come without its tests though.
Julen Lopetegui has got his side playing in a pragmatic style in front of their home fans, accumulating five clean sheets from their last six games.
Such an impeccable defensive record highlights the importance of Calvert-Lewin’s fitness to Everton’s chances.
Without the Englishman in their ranks, the Toffees have looked rudderless at times, with Neal Maupay looking like a shadow of the player at Brighton and Ellis Simms not yet being given the opportunity to shine in a string of games.
Lawrenson might have this one almost spot on, but it would come as no surprise to see it end goalless, considering the attacking deficiencies of Everton and the impressive defensive record of their opponents.