Julen Lopetegui's first taste of Premier League football will come at Goodison Park on Monday afternoon, as the Spaniard takes his Wolverhampton Wanderers side to Everton.
Wolves were 2-0 winners over Gillingham in the EFL Cup last week in what proved to be Lopetegui's first match at the helm, but Everton have not been in competitive action since the 3-0 loss at Bournemouth in the league on November 12.
Match preview
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Everton suffered three straight defeats before the campaign was halted for the World Cup, losing to both Leicester City and Bournemouth in the Premier League, in addition to a 4-1 defeat to the latter in the EFL Cup.
The Toffees travelled to Bournemouth twice in the space of four days last month and were beaten 4-1 and then 3-0, which followed a 2-0 home loss to Leicester in England's top flight.
Frank Lampard's side are currently 17th in the Premier League table, boasting just 14 points from their opening 15 matches of the campaign, which has left them just one point outside of the relegation zone.
Everton have had some positive moments this season, but their lack of goals has been a real concern, only managing to find the back of the net on 11 occasions in the Premier League this term.
Wolves are actually the lowest scorers in the league this season with eight, meanwhile, suggesting that Monday's affair will not be a high-scoring classic.
Everton's next match after this one is away to the champions Manchester City, which increases the importance of the contest with fellow strugglers Wolves.
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The visitors are now under the management of Lopetegui, who took charge of his first match last week, which proved to be a 2-0 success over Gillingham in the last-16 stage of the EFL Cup.
Raul Jimenez and Rayan Ait Nouri scored the goals in the cup fixture, with Wolves progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will meet Nottingham Forest on January 9.
Wolves have only won once in the Premier League since the start of September, though, losing four of their last five in the league during a difficult run of form.
The former Championship winners picked up a point away to Brentford at the end of October but then lost at home to both Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal before the campaign was halted for the World Cup.
The disappointing form has left Wolves bottom of the table on 10 points, boasting a record of just two wins, four draws and nine defeats from their 15 league fixtures this term.
Team News
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Everton boss Lampard has said that he will make a late call on Dominic Calvert-Lewin for this match, with the forward bidding to return from a knee problem.
Calvert-Lewin is believed to be winning his battle to make the squad, but he is unlikely to start, while Andros Townsend and James Garner remain unavailable for selection.
Everton will also be without the services of Conor Coady, who is ineligible against his parent club, which could open up a spot in the middle of the defence for Yerry Mina.
As for Wolves, Chiquinho, Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic are definitely still on the sidelines through injury, while Jonny Castro and Boubacar Traore will face late fitness tests.
Adama Traore, Matheus Nunes and Jimenez are likely to come into the starting side for this match, while Hwang Hee-chan is also pushing to be included.
Lopetegui will want to have a good look at his squad over the next few matches in order to make a proper evaluation, with Daniel Podence and Goncalo Guedes also expected to be among those to start on Monday.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Patterson, Mina, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana; McNeil, Maupay, Gray
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno; Neves, Nunes; Traore, Podence, Guedes; Jimenez
We say: Everton 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
There is not much difference in terms of quality between these two sides, and this is a huge game, even at this stage of the campaign. Both managers will be wary of losing, which could create a tense affair, and we are finding it difficult to separate them at Goodison Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
