Prince Rupert's Tower
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Everton 1 Wolves 2: Toffees failings all evident again

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Vitaliy Mykolenko of Everton and Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers in action during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park on December 26, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Vitaliy Mykolenko of Everton and Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers in action during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park on December 26, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images) /
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Everton hosted Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park yesterday in a game they really had to win but despite taking the lead early, the Blues’ were eventually beaten 2-1. 

This was a truly depressing defeat to the league’s bottom team that highlighted all the problems this Everton side have.

In particular of course, those recurrent attacking weaknessess that have plagued this team all season long.

And, after they had scored early following a well-worked corner which led to Yerry Mina’s seventh minute strike, the Blues’ failed to get control of the game giving the visitors easy possession and chances to get back into it and eventually take all the points.

It was a late, late break which led to Wolves winner as they counter-attacked from their own box for Rayan Ait-Nouri to eventually slot home the final goal after ninety-five minutes of play. Of course it being Everton this was his first Premier League goal of the season!

Although Wolves had equallised in the first-half, the Toffees’ certainly had opportunities to win this match with Anthony Gordon having an especially good chance that was well saved and Ben Godfrey one cleared off the line.

Neal Maupy also missed two opportunities to add to the solitary Premier League goal against West Ham he has netted for Everton since his £15 million summer move to Merseyside.

With the attack firing blanks again it was critical the defence remained solid. It largely did until Mina had to be withdrawn late on with yet another injury problem.

This had come of course after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was ruled out before the game following the latest in his endless series of injuries. On and on it goes.

This team and football club seem stuck in a constant groundhog day of chronic failure that is impossible to break out of.

Every season now follows more or less the same pattern. A decent, even at times bright start under the latest managerial hope with a few hints of possible genuine improvement and progress, before the whole thing falls apart again.

And, games like yesterday’s against an equally struggling side desperate for points, are exactly the sort of matches Everton always find a way to lose.

So now, after this catastrohic defeat the Blues’ travel across Lancashire to face defending champions Manchester City, a team they always lose to these days.

It seems likely then that this will be another heavy defeat again at the Etihad and probably by four or five goals if City choose to really take it seriously.

Then we have the January transfer window opening. I know we say this every year but has there been a more important window for this football club?

Without a truly transformative transfer window can anytihng hoestly be done to turn this situation around?

I have to say though that at this point in time I’m beginning to think I’m not sure anything can save Everton and I fear this will finally be the season that ends in relegation.