Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Everton 0.
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers3EvertonEverton0
Wolves boosted their chances of claiming a place in next season's Champions League with a comprehensive home victory over Everton.
Wanderers bounced back from consecutive defeats with a victory through goals either side of half-time and a game-sealing third from Diogo Jota with 15 minutes to go.
Raul Jimenez scored the first from the penalty spot in first-half injury time following a clumsy Lucas Digne foul on Daniel Podence.
Leander Dendoncker headed in the second just a minute after the restart before Jota lashed in from just inside the box to put the game beyond the visitors.
It moves Wolves back up to sixth in the table, three points behind Manchester United in fifth - a position that could be good enough to earn a place in Europe's top club competition next season.
Everton committed so much of their efforts to keeping the home side at bay and as a result offered little at the other end of the pitch, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison given scraps to feed off at best.
The closest they came to a goal was a Digne angled drive that flashed past the far post in the second half.
The defeat leaves the Toffees 11th and surely ends their hopes of securing a Europa League spot for 2020-21.
And there was more bad news for manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was already without Mason Holgate and saw fellow centre-back Yerry Mina limp off in the first half with what appeared to be a thigh injury.
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Wolves return to winning ways in style
Wolves returned to action in June in fine form, winning their first three games without conceding a goal to increase hope that a late dart for a Champions League place was on.
But early July checked that optimism, courtesy of successive defeats without scoring against Arsenal and Sheffield United - opponents who are also in the mix for a place in the top five.
This, then, was a necessary victory, resulting from very timely goals.
Podence had already tested Jordan Pickford twice with low angled drives inside the box before he used his trickery to good effect to turn and draw a mistimed challenge from Digne.
Jimenez was coolness personified from the spot, meaning he has now been involved in 35 Premier League goals this season (goals and assists combined). Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, with the same number, can match him.
Dendoncker's headed goal was the real killer, coming so early in the second half from Pedro Neto's well-delivered free-kick.
Jota's excellent finish simply confirmed what was already known, although Ruben Neves' superb floated long pass to release him is also worthy of emphasis.
Adama Traore came on for the last 19 minutes and should have added to the scoreline but instead planted an effort against the crossbar after he was found unmarked in the box by Jota.
Everton lack steel and style
Everton retained some hope of a Europa League place when the Premier League restarted but more than that you sense the final nine games were a chance for Ancelotti to assess which members of his squad have a future at the club.
On this evidence, the Italian has his work cut out.
They possess two superb centre forwards, but without much of a creative midfield behind them the Blues are unable to maximise their most potent weapons.
So little an impact did top-scorer Richarlison have on the game he was withdrawn shortly after the hour mark.
Failing to provide ammunition is not the only failing of the Toffees midfield. It also struggles to provide an adequate shield for the defence - especially one hit by injuries.
Jordan Pickford was too often exposed and had to make three saves to deny Podence a goal his display deserved, although the Everton keeper was fortunate to be able to scramble the last off the line after allowing it to go through his legs.
Having now won just three of their past 32 Premier League away matches against teams in the top half of the table, and suffered 11 top-flight defeats on the road for the first time since 2003-04, the Blues desperately need some grit to complement the guile up front.
Man of the match - Ruben Neves (Wolves)
Wolves hitting their goals under Nuno
- This was the third time Wolves have won a game by three goals in the Premier League under Nuno Espírito Santo - prior to his reign, they had only won once in the competition by more than two goals (4-0 v Blackpool in February 2011).
- Everton have only kept one clean sheet in their past 17 away games in the Premier League, conceding at least two goals in 10 of these fixtures.
- Wolves have now kept a clean sheet in five of their past six Premier League games at Molineux (W3 D2 L1), as many as they had in their previous 18 combined.
- Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has scored with all six of the penalties he has taken in the Premier League; only Yaya Toure (11), Dimitar Berbatov (nine), Jan Molby (seven) and Rickie Lambert (seven) have a better 100% ratio in the competition.
- Diogo Jota has scored five goals for Wolves after coming on as a substitute - more than any other Premier League player across all competitions.
What next?
Wolves travel to face Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday in a 18:00 BST kick-off. Everton host Aston Villa at Goodison Park the next day, also at 18:00.
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 11Rui Patrício
- 15Boly
- 16Coady
- 27Saïss
- 2Doherty
- 32Dendoncker
- 8Neves
- 19Castro Otto
- 7NetoSubstituted forJotaat 56'minutes
- 9JiménezSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 78'minutes
- 10PodenceSubstituted forTraoréat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Cavaco Jordão
- 17Gibbs-White
- 18Jota
- 21Ruddy
- 28João Moutinho
- 29Vinagre
- 37Traoré
- 49Kilman
- 59Buur
Everton
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Pickford
- 5KeaneBooked at 58mins
- 13MinaSubstituted forColemanat 31'minutes
- 12DigneBooked at 19mins
- 11WalcottSubstituted forBernardat 56'minutes
- 26Davies
- 10G Sigurdsson
- 42GordonSubstituted forIwobiat 56'minutes
- 3BainesSubstituted forBranthwaiteat 45'minutes
- 7RicharlisonSubstituted forKeanat 63'minutes
- 9Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes
- 17Iwobi
- 19Sidibé
- 20Bernard
- 22Stekelenburg
- 23Coleman
- 27Kean
- 31Neves Virgínia
- 32Branthwaite
- 34Baningime
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamEverton
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Everton 0.
Post update
Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Séamus Coleman (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lucas Digne (Everton).
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Attempt blocked. Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rúben Neves.
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Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alex Iwobi (Everton).
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Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Diogo Jota following a fast break.
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Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rúben Neves tries a through ball, but Matt Doherty is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by João Moutinho.
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Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Lucas Digne (Everton).
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. João Moutinho replaces Raúl Jiménez.
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Attempt saved. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Digne with a cross.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 3, Everton 0. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rúben Neves following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lucas Digne (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Michael Keane following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Lucas Digne (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Comments
Join the conversation
UP Arrow if you think Nick Pope should be England Number One.
Won’t be long now. Football matches in four quarters.
Well done Wolves, from this staunch Evertonian. A very tidy and watchable team. Really decent manager too.
A lot to like about him, and how he’s got his team playing.
Good luck to Wolves, hope they succeed in Europe
The hope of the Bully years, although not quite achieving what they could, was frustrating.
But now with this team and Nuno, challenging the top 6, making a really good job in Europe, finally it’s great to be Wolves fan. Keep the magic going, thank you.
Downing tools when there’s likely to be only a short gap is dangerous for Everton as they could suddenly have 3 points from 5 or 6 games
Nothing special. Just could and should have beaten an established prem team 4-0 with ease.
Amazing how people like you never give us credit. Real champions like LFC do. But we beat United and its "they are poor"... Beat Arsenal and itevsame. Beat spurs and same. Do double over city and the same. LFC at least have class.
Was that pun intended?
Anyway, Wolves deserve to be in Europe, been strong as a unit, had a few blips, but overall a very good side.
Well played Wolves.
Southgate's goto keeper does not inspire confidence.