Wolves welcome Everton to Molineux in the Premier League on Saturday night, and the visitors may find some relief in the fact that Matheus Cunha is set to begin his suspension.
Wolves were dealt a significant blow last weekend when Cunha was sent off for losing his composure during a clash with Milos Kerkez.
The Brazilian forward received a red card, resulting in a suspension expected to last at least three matches, forcing manager Vitor Pereira to prepare for upcoming games without his most influential player.
Despite letting his team down in that moment of frustration, Cunha has demonstrated his immense value this season, justifying the £62.5 million release clause in his contract by netting 15 goals across all competitions.
Replacing a player of Cunha’s caliber is no easy task, with the likes of Goncalo Guedes, Hwang Hee-chan, and Jorgen Strand Larsen now needing to step up in his absence.
However, Everton boss David Moyes believes Wolves must find a way to cope, drawing a comparison to the injury setbacks his own team has faced.
David Moyes compares Matheus Cunha to Dominic Calvert-Lewin:
Speaking ahead of Everton’s trip to Molineux, Moyes expressed little sympathy for Wolves, pointing out that the Toffees have also lost key players, using Dominic Calvert-Lewin as an example.
“I think they’ve done a really good job at Wolves and I think they’ve got themselves back on track,” Moyes said.
“I think they’ve played well in a few games, they had a really good win at Bournemouth the week before the cup,” Moyes added in his press conference.
“They ran them close in the cup game as well, but obviously, they lose a really important player for them. But we’ve lost really important players as well, you look at Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] out the team, so we’ve adapted to the situation as well. It’s a part of football nowadays that you get injuries, so you have to find a few ways of coping without them.”
Moyes’ comments about Calvert-Lewin may have irked some Wolves fans, as Cunha is widely regarded as a far superior player to the Everton striker, both in terms of quality and importance to his team.
How Cunha compares to Calvert-Lewin
There’s a reason why several top clubs are pursuing Cunha, as he offers much more than just goal-scoring. The Brazilian possesses the technical ability to break down defenses, the strength to drive forward with pace, and a remarkable knack for finishing chances.
In contrast, Calvert-Lewin is primarily a target man whose finishing has often been criticized by both the media and sections of the Everton fanbase.
As the table above illustrates, Cunha is a level above Calvert-Lewin and is virtually irreplaceable for Wolves. On the other hand, Calvert-Lewin’s absence has been more manageable for Everton, as evidenced by the emergence of Beto.
When Moyes spoke about adapting without Calvert-Lewin, it was undoubtedly a simpler challenge compared to the one facing Pereira, who must now find a way to fill the void left by Cunha’s suspension.