Everton continued their preparations ahead of a return to Premier League football with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in a behind-closed-doors training match at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Anthony Gordon and Neal Maupay struck early to give the Toffees a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes, which they would hold on to thanks to a string of saves from Jordan Pickford. The 28-year-old returned to domestic action following his everpresent part in England's run to the World Cup quarter-finals.
This afternoon's meeting is the second in recent days in which Everton have faced Premier League opposition behind closed doors, with Lampard's side drawing 1-1 against Manchester United at their Carrington trianing base last Wednesday.
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Everton took just eight minutes to open the scoring at an empty Goodison Park, Nathan Patterson driving down the right hand side before finding Gordon with a cutback. The 21-year-old set himself before firing into the bottom corner.
Maupay doubled their lead five minutes later, heading home from close range after an Alex Iwobi backheel kept a corner alive.
The Blues held onto their lead and kept a clean sheet during the second-half, with Lampard managing to give minutes to the vast majority of his squad ahead of Monday's return to competitive action.
Everton host bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers in a crucial game, with Lampard's side spending Christmas Day just one point and one place above the bottom three.
Julen Lopetegui saw his Wolves side beat Gillingham 2-0 in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last night, naming a strong side in his first competitive game in charge.
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