In-form Wolverhampton Wanderers eased to a third successive win, easing past Everton 3-0 at Molineux, thanks to goals from Max Kilman, Craig Dawson and Matheus Cuhna.
Gary O'Neil's team extended their unbeaten home form to eight matches, the longest such run since a 10-match streak between January and August 2019.
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How the match unfolded
Tommy Doyle and Craig Dawson were the only changes made from Wolves’ midweek win at Brentford.
For Everton, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane returned to the starting XI, replacing Beto and Andre Gomes.
Wolves got off to a fast start as Hwang Hee-chan's cutback in the six-yard box was intercepted by Keane, preventing a lunging Matheus Cunha from scoring at the back post.
Minutes later, Matheus Cunha released Hwang through on goal. However, the South Korean opted to round the onrushing Jordan Pickford instead of shooting, resulting in the forward being tackled by the recovering Everton defenders.
In the 23rd minute Kilman gave Wolves a deserved lead. From Matheus Cunha’s whipped cross Dawson scrambled to reach the ball, forcing Pickford into a save, but Kilman was there to tap in the rebound.
In his celebration Kilman held up Mario Lemina’s shirt in support of his team-mate, who was absent having lost his father the day before.
Calvert-Lewin came close to grabbing an equaliser, but was unable to convert from a tight angle.
In the 53rd minute, Cunha doubled Wolves' lead after converting Hwang’s cutback in the box for his sixth goal of the season.
After a mishap at the back for Everton, Hwang burst through on goal, chopping back on his right foot, but saw his powerful shot rattle off the post and wide.
Nevertheless, shortly after, Wolves had their third goal. Matheus Cunha’s cross from the left was finished expertly by Dawson, for his first goal of the season.
Dwight McNeil was close to giving Everton a lifeline as his thunderous strike from 25 yards out crashed off the post.
Wolves continued to attack and were close to a fourth as Hwang had the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
In stoppage time Pedro Neto nearly had a dream return from injury but his goal was ruled out for offside.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 30, 2023
Wolves remain 11th on 28 points, level with Chelsea a place above them. Everton remain in 17th on 16 points.
Wolves report | Everton report
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 |
Crystal Palace
CRY
|
38 | -1 | 49 |
| 11 |
Brighton
BHA
|
38 | -7 | 48 |
| 12 |
Bournemouth
BOU
|
38 | -13 | 48 |
| 13 |
Fulham
FUL
|
38 | -6 | 47 |
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Key facts
Wolves have won back-to-back Premier League games by 3+ goals for the first time, previously doing so in the top-flight back in April 1964.
Everton have lost three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since losing their first three this term. They’ve also conceded 3+ goals in back-to-back top-flight matches for the first time since December 2018.
Everton have conceded eight goals in their last three Premier League games, as many as in their previous 10 games combined. Indeed, the Toffees had kept four consecutive clean sheets before this run.
Hwang Hee-Chan has been directly involved in 43% of Wolves’ Premier League goals this season (13/30 – 10 goals, 3 assists), with only Mohamed Salah (49% for Liverpool) and Dominic Solanke (48% for Bournemouth) either scoring or assisting a higher share of their side’s goals this term.
