On a tempestuous Saturday afternoon in Wolverhampton, Everton produced a gripping display of attacking flair and resilience to edge out a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Wolves at Molineux. Jack Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, stole the show with a masterful performance that not only delivered two assists but ignited a transformation in Everton’s momentum this season.
From the outset, Everton seized control. Within seven minutes, a well-executed cross from Vitalii Mykolenko found its way into the penalty area, where Grealish headed it back across goal, allowing Beto to head home with ease and hand Everton a rousing early lead.
The goal set the tone for a spirited contest and validated Moyes’ decision to start Beto, who repaid the faith with a confident finish.
Yet the hosts responded swiftly. In the 21st minute, Marshall Munetsi sent in a precise cross from the right, and Hwang Hee-Chan arrived perfectly to fire past Jordan Pickford, leveling the score amid renewed energy from the home side. That equalizer injected life into the match, as Wolves battled to throw off Everton’s early dominance.
If the first half had been cagey following that moment, Everton retook the lead before the interval through a finely crafted move. Grealish, narrowly denied on a previous occasion, regained possession and slipped a pass to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who in turn teed up Iliman Ndiaye for a simple tap-in while the Wolves defense stood still.
The second half began with Everton pressing their advantage. Just ten minutes in, Dewsbury-Hall unleashed a thunderous strike—fed by Grealish—that bulged the net and stretched the visitors’ lead to two goals.
At this point, Everton looked assured and in full command, the creative partnership between Grealish and his teammates epitomizing Moyes’s ambitious brand of attacking football.
Wolves, however, were not ready to concede defeat. A tactical shift and substitutions helped spark a revival. In the 79th minute, David Møller Wolfe curled in a dangerous delivery from the wing that Rodrigo Gomes met to pull a goal back, reviving Wolves’ hopes and breathing life into a pulsating finale.
The closing moments were frenetic. Wolves camped in Everton’s half, desperately seeking equilibrium, but Pickford was resolute. Deep into stoppage time, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde tested the keeper, whose parry left Gomes with a chance to equalize—only for the effort to drift agonizingly wide.
Despite the late barrage, Everton held firm. The full-time whistle confirmed a hard-earnt 3–2 win, lifting them to fifth place after three matches, while Wolves endured their third straight defeat without a point in the league.
In the aftermath, praise flowed for Everton’s rejuvenated creativity and attacking verve. Grealish, in just his second league start for the club, had now registered four assists in only 163 minutes of play—already eclipsing his output across two underwhelming seasons at City.
Moyes was effusive: “He is even better than I thought he was.” The manager emphasized Grealish’s growing confidence, adaptability, and ability to elevate the team’s quality.
Supporting acts weren’t far behind. Dewsbury-Hall delivered a man-of-the-match-worthy showing—scoring his first goal for Everton and playing a pivotal role in the build-up to Ndiaye’s strike.
Ndiaye himself impressed with his energy and finishing, again finding the net for his second consecutive match. Even Jordan Pickford, though tested, made key saves that ultimately preserved the win.