Everton made a disappointing return to Premier League action following the World Cup after Rayan Ait Nouri's stoppage-time winner condemned the Blues to a 2-1 defeat.
The loss leaves them within a point of the relegation zone as Julen Lopetegui picked up his first win in charge of Wolves - taking them to within touching distance of Frank Lampard's side.
Nottingham Forest fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Manchester United which meant that Everton avoided slipping into the drop zone.
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The festive period continues its chaotic streak and it doesn't rest for Lampard and his players. They have to play five matches in just under a month with their FA Cup clash with Manchester United sandwiched in between.
After their defeat to Wolves, they sit in 17th, a point above the relegation zone and three points off 13th-placed Leicester City. The have a busy fixture list over the course of January and early February and the period will be vital to their chances of avoiding a relegation scrap for the second successive season.
Here are Everton's next five Premier League fixtures
Manchester City (A) - December 31
Brighton (H) - January 3
Southampton (H) - January 14
West Ham (A) - January 21
Arsenal (H) - February 4
13th - Leicester's next five Premier League fixtures
Liverpool (A) - December 30
Fulham (H) - January 3
Nottingham Forest (A) - January 14
Brighton (H) - January 21
Aston Villa (A) - February 4
14th - Bournemouth's next five Premier League fixtures
Crystal Palace (H) - December 31
Manchester United (A) - January 3
Brentford (A) - January 14
Nottingham Forest (H) - January 21
Brighton (A) - February 4
15th - Leeds' next six Premier League fixtures
Manchester City (H) - December 28
Newcastle (A) - December 31
West Ham (H) - January 4
Aston Villa (A) - January 13
Brentford (H) - January 22
Nottingham Forest - February 5
16th - West Ham's next five Premier League fixtures
Brentford (H) - December 30
Leeds (A) - January 4
Wolves (A) - January 14
Everton (H) - January 21
Newcastle (A) - February 4
18th - Wolves' next five Premier League fixtures
Manchester United (H) - December 31
Aston Villa (A) - January 4
West Ham (H) - January 14
Manchester City (A) - January 22
Liverpool (H) - February 4
19th - Nottingham Forest's next five Premier League fixtures
Chelsea (H) - January 1
Southampton (A) - January 4
Leicester City (H) - January 14
Bournemouth (A) - January 21
Leeds (H) - February 5
20th - Southampton's next five Premier League fixtures
Fulham (A) - December 31
Nottingham Forest (H) - January 4
Everton (A) - January 14
Aston Villa (H) - January 21
Brentford (A) - February 4
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