Wolves v Everton: Premier League – live!

40 min “Not a thought on this match so far, but you never know,” says Paul. “I think the people in charge of VAR are missing an unprecedented opportunity to test decisions and also supply more clarity. As there are no fans, the pressure on the ref has been reduced and the opportunity for him to take his time and if necessary use the pitch-side monitor has been made easier.

“It would have made sense at the backend of the season, where so much is at stake, to subject all major decisions to scrutiny and not hide behind the ‘clear and obvious’ line of argument , which at the moment really just means the referee in his subjective view of the match, if convinced of his decision, is never to be corrected by a more impartial and objective view from the outside It’s like going to an appeals court to get a miscarriage of justice, knowing that the judge’s pronouncement will not be overturned.”

They could just get rid of the whole sorry farce until it’s fit for purpose, that’s another option. That’s my biggest problem with it, that it was fast-tracked when it was nowhere near ready.

38 min An even better cross from the left by Neto is fumbled by Pickford, who is happy to see the ball fall kindly for Keane to clear.

36 min Neto runs at Walcott and puts in a good deep cross that is headed away by Digne. Wolves are slowly taking control of the game.

31 min Seamus Coleman replaces Yerry Mina. He’ll play as the right-sided centre-back, with Keane moving into the middle.

29 min Mina is down with what looks like a thigh muscle injury. Everton don’t have many central-defensive options on the bench: the teenager Jarrad Branthwaite and maybe Seamus Coleman.

27 min Brilliant play from Jimenez, who plays an impromptu game of keepy-uppy on the edge of the box before hitting an overhead kick that is saved down to his right by Pickford. That was vaguely reminiscent of this spectacular goal from Manuel Negrete.

26 min The lively Podence gets a lucky ricochet off Walcott and belts a low shot that is turned round at the near post by Pickford. Good save.

25 min: Fine tackle from Digne! Podence sliced the defence open with a quite brilliant angled through pass inside Digne, who recovered brilliantly to make a desperate last-ditch tackle on Neto.

In other news Jofra Bloody Archer.

22 min Time for the drinks break. The build-up play from both sides has been far too slow. On the plus side, it’ll all be over soon enough.

17 min A decent ball from Walcott flashes across the face of goal.

14 min It’s not been the greatest start, I won’t lie to you.

12 min Wolves win a corner on the left. Neto plays it short to Podence, whose return ball goes straight out of play for a goalkick. Nice one.

7 min Doherty plays a nice one-two with Dendoncker and moves infield, away from Sigurdsson. He runs to within 25 yards of goal before mishitting a shot well wide.

7 min Plenty of possession for Wolves, though most of it has been in deeper positions.

3 min Saiss slides a good pass down the inside-left channel to Podence. He tries to steer it first time past Pickford but doesn’t connect properly and Pickford stretches to his left to save. At the other end, Calvert-Lewin’s low shot from a tight angle is comfortably held by the sprawling Rui Patricio.

2 min Lucas Digne is playing as the left-sided centre-back for Everton, with Leighton Baines and Theo Walcott as wing-backs.

1 min Peep peep! Everton, in blue, kick off from left to right. Wolves are in the old gold.

Alternative entertainment

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-2-1) Rui Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Dendoncker, Jonny; Neto, Podence; Jimenez.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Vinagre, Kilman, Buur, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Jota, Moutinho, Traore.

Everton (3-5-2) Pickford; Mina, Keane, Digne; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Davies, Gordon, Baines; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Virginia, Sidibe, Coleman, Branthwaite, Iwobi, Baningime, Bernard, Kean.

Referee Anthony Taylor.

Hello. Eight days ago, Wolves were eyeing a Champions League place. Now they are in danger of missing out on the Europa League. Back-to-back defeats, to Europa rivals Arsenal and Sheffield United, have left them in a vulnerable position. A Champions League place is not completely out of question, especially with Chelsea and Leicester’s erratic form, but another season in the Europa League is a more realistic ambition.

A win today over Everton would restore a bit of order and move Wolves back up to sixth. It’s not an easy game, as Everton are pretty unpredictable – excellent in beating Leicester one minute, offensively listless in losing to Spurs the next. For Carlo Ancelotti, these matches are useful preparation for the 2020-21 season – the one in which Wolves hope to be playing in Europe again.

Kick off 12pm.