Everton vs Wolves – News and Probable Lineups

On Wednesday evening, Everton will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the EFL Cup.

Currently, the Toffees are positioned seventh in the Premier League standings, while Wolves find themselves seventh in the Championship table.

Match overview

Despite some dissatisfaction regarding the conclusion of the summer transfer period, Everton has managed to initiate the season with a commendable performance.

Heading into stoppage time behind Bournemouth and Manchester United, Everton could have experienced a different outcome, but late equalizers have allowed David Moyes’s team to establish an unbeaten streak of four matches in the Premier League.

Following their opening game victory against Crystal Palace, the team has settled for three consecutive draws, including a goalless match against Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

This latest fixture marked the third clean sheet the team has recorded in five games across all competitions, especially highlighting their strong display after defeating Preston North End 4-0 in the second round of the EFL Cup.

On the other hand, Wolves are commencing their fourth consecutive away game after having visited West Ham United, Birmingham City, and Sheffield United.

After securing just one point from their first two outings in this away series, the pressure increased ahead of their encounter at Bramall Lane on Sunday. However, Raul Jimenez managed to net a late winner, leading Cesar Peixoto’s squad to a 1-0 triumph.

The clean sheet recorded in Yorkshire marked Wolves’ first of the Championship season, highlighting that defense is an ongoing concern for the Portuguese coach.

Nonetheless, sitting in seventh place and trailing the leaders West Ham by three points with a game in hand, Peixoto is likely feeling a sense of contentment with his initial period in charge at Molineux.

Last season, Wolves triumphed over Everton in the EFL Cup in the West Midlands and also managed a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture at the Hill Dickinson Stadium during the 2025-26 Premier League.

Team News

Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane, Hayden Hackney, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Grealish, and Tyler Dibling could all feature in the starting XI for Everton.

Head coach Moyes might also contemplate giving 18-year-old Braiden Graham a chance, knowing that he needs to manage Thierno Barry’s minutes due to the team’s shortage of traditional forwards.

Merlin Rohl will undergo an assessment after his absence in Saturday’s match against Tottenham, while Christian Norgaard will be sidelined until after the international break in September.

Wolves goalkeeper Joao Virginia could make his debut against his former side, with Ghislain Konan and Sean Neave also likely to earn their first starts following their respective deadline-day transfers.

Despite having returned from injury on Sunday, Kieran Trippier may not be risked from the outset, while Nasser Djiga is set to miss out after being substituted during the second half against Sheffield United.

Young defender Saheed Olagunju is poised to start in defense after scoring against Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round, though recent acquisition Bertrand Traore is expected to be on the substitutes’ bench at best.

Everton probable starting XI:

Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner; Dibling, Hackney, Alcaraz, Grealish; Barry

Wolverhampton Wanderers probable starting XI:

Virginia; Tchatchoua, Olagunju, T Gomes, Konan; Bo Traore, Doyle; Neave, James, R Gomes; Jimenez

Moyes and his squad will be cautious against a Wolves team known for playing attractive football in the Championship. However, Peixoto’s side has exhibited vulnerabilities in defense, leading to a belief that the Toffees’ quality may prevail, particularly since Wolves are likely to field a weakened starting lineup.