Dances With Wolves

In a rather shambolic display; Everton succumbed to an inspired Wolverhampton Wanderers performance 3-0 at Molineux. The problem with Everton now seems to be they don't have an identity of how they want to play; no philosophy of how they want to operate. Their midfield duo of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Davies seems lost in transition; and it looks a case of square pegs fitting round holes; with players not accustomed and not knowing what to do with and without the ball.

Sigurdsson is probably better higher up field at the No. 10 position; but he is not performing there and with the manager's preference for a 4-4-2 formation; what you gonna do? Carlo Ancelotti's decision to play a 3-4-1-2 formation also did not work; made worse by the rather-strange decision of playing Leighton Baines instead of Lucas Digne at left wing-back; with the former 35-year old veteran near-anonymous in a torrid first half for the Blues.

In contrast; Nuno Espirito Santos' men were dynamic; cohesive and looking everything like the brilliant Europe-chasing Wolves we know. Their 3-4-3 formation worked wonders; with everything in-sync and their players managing the game and flow superbly. Their full debutant Daniel Podence was highly impressive; and in a quick movement of feet; managed to draw a foul from Digne right at the end of the first half to win a penalty for the home side; which was ably tucked away by the reliable Raul Jimenez.

Things looked bad for Everton; but they got worse pretty quick after the restart. With Ancelotti perhaps wisely switching to a 4-4-2 set-up and bringing on youngster Jarrad Branthwaite for the afore-mentioned Baines; the former immediately gave away a poor foul and then lost sight of Leander Dendoncker who headed in the second; from a brilliant free-kick delivery by Man Of The Match Pedro Neto.

There was now no way back for Everton; and with Wolves turning on the style; two became three when the brilliant Ruben Neves won the ball from a superb tackle from Bernard; before firing over a Pass-Of-The-Season contender for substitute Diogo Jota to rifle in near-post past Jordan Pickford. Such was Wolves' dominance that it could easily have been four; as the impressive Jota raced away before squaring to an unmarked Adama Traore; who contrived to hit the bar when it was far easier to score; in a Miss-Of-The-Season contender.