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.
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