Everton host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Cup at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Wednesday with kick-off scheduled for 19:45. The Premier League hosts face Championship opposition after both clubs recorded convincing victories in the previous round.
Everton reached the third round by beating Preston North End 4-0 at Deepdale. David Moyes selected a strong team and watched Everton control the match from the opening stages.
Thierno Barry broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, converting Vitalii Mykolenko's cross following a pass from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Barry added a second after Lee Nicholls pushed Dewsbury-Hall's shot into his path, then completed his hat-trick from Brennan Johnson's delivery.
Johnson scored the fourth after Barry released him with a through ball. Everton finished with 4.13 xG, 29 shots and 10 efforts on target, while Preston North End generated 0.35 xG from five attempts.
Everton are unbeaten through four Premier League matches, recording one victory and three draws. They have scored five goals and conceded three, although their 5.00 xG and 5.92 xGA show their results have been stronger than the balance of chances.
Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 in the second round. Sil Swinkels scored an early own goal after Joe Lumley parried Tawanda Chirewa's effort against his teammate.
Saheed Olagunju doubled the advantage on his senior debut, heading in Tommy Doyle's delivery during first-half stoppage time. Wolverhampton Wanderers controlled the tie despite making eight changes, limiting Sheffield Wednesday to 0.39 xG and no big chances.
The visitors have won two of their opening six Championship matches, drawing three and losing once. They have scored 13 goals and conceded 10, with 88 shots and 61 attempts from inside the penalty area.
Everton are without Christian Norgaard because of a muscle injury. Jordan Pickford should start behind Jake O'Brien, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski and Mykolenko. James Garner provides the midfield base, with Tyler Dibling, Hayden Hackney, Charly Alcaraz and Jack Grealish supporting Barry.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are missing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Rafiki Said and Yerson Mosquera. Joao Virginia is expected in goal, while Boubacar Traore and Doyle should form the midfield pairing. Raul Jimenez is in line to lead the attack.
How the bookies view it
Everton are 33/50, carrying an implied probability of 60.2%. The draw is 3/1, representing 25%, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are 17/4, giving them a 19% chance of winning.
Over 2.5 goals is priced at 13/17, implying a probability of 56.7%. Under 2.5 is available at 21/20, representing 48.8%.
Both teams to score is 4/5 for yes, carrying an implied probability of 55.6%. No is priced at 21/20, representing 48.8%.
Head to head: Wolves edge the recent history
Wolverhampton Wanderers have won six of the last 11 meetings. Everton have recorded two victories, with three matches finishing level.
The visitors have lost only two games during that sequence and have won three of their last five trips to Everton. The latest meeting finished 1-1 in January 2026.
Both teams scored in six of the 11 fixtures. Over 2.5 goals landed five times, leaving six matches with no more than 2 goals.
The most relevant meeting came in last season's EFL Cup. Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Everton 2-0 at Molineux in September 2025.
Player to watch: Thierno Barry only central striker option
Thierno Barry has scored one goal across 149 minutes in the Premier League this season. The striker has generated 1.93 xG from five shots, placing three on target, while his return also includes 0.09 xA and two chances created.
Barry added three goals and one assist against Preston North End. His first finish showed his movement around the six-yard box, while his second came from a goalkeeper's save. He completed the hat-trick by meeting Johnson's cross before assisting the fourth goal.
Predicted lineups
Everton (4-1-4-1): Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Garner, Dibling, Hackney, Alcaraz, Grealish, Barry.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-2-3-1): Virginia, Tchatchoua, Olagunju, T Gomes, Konan, Bo Traore, Doyle, Neave, James, R Gomes, Jimenez.
Anything else catch the eye
Both teams showed defensive control in the previous round. Everton allowed five shots, one effort on target and no big chances at Preston North End. Wolverhampton Wanderers also faced no big chances against Sheffield Wednesday.
Everton's league results offer further support. Moyes' side have conceded only three goals across four matches, with opponents placing 14 of 56 shots on target. They also kept clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.
Wolverhampton Wanderers arrive with a strong scoring record, but the expected lineup contains several changes from their Championship side. Jimenez provides experience through the middle, although the three players behind him have limited senior minutes together.
Everton retain an experienced defensive core. Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski and Garner should protect the central areas, while O'Brien and Mykolenko limit the space available from wide positions.
Recent meetings have not produced a consistent high-scoring pattern. Only five of the last 11 went over 2.5 goals, while one side failed to score in five of those fixtures.
Everton should create the stronger chances through Grealish, Alcaraz and Barry. The selection does not require the hosts to win or score 3 goals. It instead targets their defensive record and the changes expected from the visitors.
Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Betting Tips & Predictions
Further Reading
- Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion Prediction and Betting Tips – 2026-09-16
- Coventry City vs Aston Villa Prediction and Betting Tips – 2026-09-16
- Reading vs Brentford Prediction and Betting Tips – 2026-09-15
- Ipswich Town vs Arsenal Prediction and Betting Tips – 2026-09-15
- West Ham vs Fulham Prediction and Betting Tips – 2026-09-15
GambleAware