A mid-season Premier League break may have arrived at just the right time for Everton, as Frank Lampard takes stock of the current state of play.
Two comprehensive defeats in a week against Bournemouth are not exactly the ideal results to stew on heading into the first winter World Cup in Qatar, but if nothing else it will allow manager Frank Lampard to take stock of the situation and put into a place a plan of action when domestic action gets back underway in December.
But exactly when do Everton play again once the World Cup is done and dusted?
READ MORE: Which Everton players are at the World Cup as squads are confirmed for Qatar
If all goes to plan, Jordan Pickford and Conor Coady can parade the golden World Cup trophy around Goodison Park when Everton face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day (December 26) in a 3pm kick off. The match will be streamed lived by Amazon Prime.
On-loan Coady will be up against his parent club, who will head into the fixture rock-bottom of the Premier League, but a win for the visitors would pull Lampard's men into further trouble with Wolves just a point behind them. Victory for Everton however, could lift them as high as 14th, relieving the pressure somewhat on their under-fire manager.
Securing a home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hugely important for the Blues, given that their next match will be away to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday, December 31.
Everton's next six league matches
December 26, Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
December 31, Manchester City (a)
January 3, Brighton & Hove Albion (h)
January 14, Southampton (h)
January 21, West Ham United (a)
February 4, Arsenal (h)
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