Everton have only played six matches since the return of competitive football in August, but are already en route to a replay fixture this week, traveling to Molineux to face Wolves in the third round of the League Cup.

​It was just over three weeks ago that Everton beat Wolves 3-2 away from home in the Premier League, so what can David Moyes and his team learn from that performance ahead of the rematch?

​It was Everton’s best attacking game of the season, scoring their most goals in a match, and impressing pundits and supporters alike with the fluid attacking play from Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Iliman Ndiaye.

​But Everton haven’t quite lived up to the hype since then. Idrissa Gueye’s strike against Liverpool is the only goal the Toffees have scored since that match, after a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa before last weekend's defeat at Anfield.

​However, the home side are off to their worst-ever league start. After losing to Leeds United, thanks in part to a goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Vitor Pereira's team have now lost all five of their opening league fixtures.

​So on paper, Everton should have the attacking quality to beat a floundering Wolves side again, but there were some concerning signs at the back in that 3-2 victory that David Moyes will want to address to prevent disappointment.

​Everton played with a high press, which Wolves struggled to deal with. All five of the midfield players hunted in packs, staying very close together and moving as a unit without the ball.

​Meanwhile, Wolves sat back in a narrow shape, leaving lots of space for Everton on the wings. They may make adjustments to that after Everton punished them for it last time.

​When Everton had the ball, they threw men forward. For both of Everton’s first two goals, Michael Keane was up in the Wolves area, assisting with the press. This gave Everton an overload at times and meant their back three had to match up one for one when crosses came in.

​This was the perfect attacking game plan for Everton, but in defence, the Toffees struggled, the defensive line sitting too far back, leaving excess space between their line and the high-pressing midfield.

​It was an issue Everton also had against Liverpool, leaving too much space between the back line and the midfield.

​Both of Wolves’ goals came on the counter, with Everton’s defence neither keeping a high enough line to catch Wolves offside, nor keeping track of the midfield runners coming into the box.

​It’s a sign of a team with two distinct identities. A defence that’s used to sitting back in a low-block, reminiscent of the Sean Dyche era, and an attack that wants to push forward and get at the opposition.

​Against Wolves, the best form of defence should be even more attack. David Moyes needs to urge his back line to push even higher up the pitch and prevent Wolves from utilising the space in between midfield and defence, even if that risks balls coming in behind

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