Chelsea vs Wolves | Premier League | Pre Match

Enzo Maresca will be looking to guide Chelsea back to winning ways as they host an out-of-form Wolverhampton Wanderers team at Stamford Bridge on Monday night. Chelsea have been struggling in the Premier League, currently enduring a five-game winless streak that has seen them drop to fifth place in the league table. This is their longest winless run since a seven-match stretch between March and May 2023, raising concerns about their form and ability to secure a top-four finish.

The Blues showed resilience in their last outing, with Reece James’ late free-kick earning them a 2-2 draw at home against Bournemouth. Despite salvaging a point, Maresca will be particularly worried about his team’s poor home form this season. Chelsea have managed to accumulate only 43% of their Premier League points at Stamford Bridge, securing just 16 out of a total of 37. This represents the lowest home-points share in the league, a worrying statistic for a club that once prided itself on making Stamford Bridge a fortress.

Adding to Maresca’s concerns is the fitness of key attacker Cole Palmer, who opened the scoring against Bournemouth but picked up a knock that puts his availability for Monday in doubt. Palmer’s potential absence could be a significant blow, especially considering his impressive record against Wolves. He was instrumental in Chelsea’s 6-2 demolition of Wolves earlier this season, providing three assists for Noni Madueke’s hat-trick. In his last two outings against Wolves, Palmer has been directly involved in five goals, underlining his importance to the Chelsea attack.

Palmer’s partnership with Nicolas Jackson has also been a bright spot for Chelsea. The duo has combined for 12 Premier League goals since the start of last season, making them the most productive pairing in the league over that period. Only four partnerships in Chelsea’s Premier League history have managed more goals than Palmer and Jackson’s tally: Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard (36), Cesc Fàbregas and Diego Costa (14), Drogba and Nicolas Anelka (13), and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen (13). If Palmer is ruled out, Maresca will need Jackson to step up and carry the attacking burden.

On the other side, Wolves will be relying heavily on Matheus Cunha to spark a revival. The Brazilian forward has been a standout performer this season, averaging 3.3 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. This is the second-highest average for a Wolves player in a single season, trailing only Henri Camara’s 4.0 shots per 90 minutes during the 2003-04 campaign. Cunha’s ability to create chances and test opposing defenses will be critical if Wolves are to reverse their fortunes.

However, Cunha’s influence was limited in Wolves’ most recent outing—a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United—where he started on the bench due to illness. That defeat marked Wolves’ second consecutive 3-0 loss, following a similar result against Nottingham Forest. Another heavy defeat on Monday would see Wolves set an unwanted record, becoming the first top-flight side since Nottingham Forest in 1910 to lose their first three league games of a calendar year by three or more goals.

Wolves’ recent struggles extend beyond their recent scorelines. Their performances in London have been particularly poor, with the team conceding 32 goals while scoring 25 in their last 13 Premier League away matches in the capital—an average of 4.4 goals per game. Wolves have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of these games, with their last shutout in London coming in February 2022 when they beat Tottenham 2-0. Since then, they have gone 22 games without a clean sheet in the capital, a worrying statistic as they prepare to face Chelsea.

Team news offers additional complexity for both managers. Chelsea’s Maresca has hinted that Palmer, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernández, and Roméo Lavia are all facing late fitness tests, leaving key areas of the squad in doubt. Meanwhile, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira may consider reinstating Mario Lemina to the starting lineup following the player’s apology for a backroom disagreement. Pereira will also assess Cunha’s recovery from illness, as his presence will be vital for Wolves’ attacking prospects.

History does not favor Chelsea in recent encounters with Wolves. The Blues have lost three of their last four Premier League meetings with Wolves, as many as they had in their previous 17 matches combined (10 wins and four draws). However, Chelsea’s emphatic 6-2 victory in this season’s reverse fixture, powered by a Noni Madueke hat-trick and additional goals from Jackson, Palmer, and João Félix, suggests they have the firepower to exploit Wolves’ vulnerabilities.

Despite Chelsea’s dominance in the reverse fixture, Wolves will take some inspiration from their victory in this exact clash last season. Then under the management of Gary O’Neil, Wolves stunned Stamford Bridge with a 4-2 victory, a match in which Cunha delivered a hat-trick. Securing back-to-back away wins against Chelsea would be historic for Wolves, who last achieved this feat in February 1964.

For Chelsea, the stakes are high as they seek to avoid losing further ground in the race for European qualification. Maresca will need his team to rediscover their cutting edge in front of goal while addressing their defensive frailties. The potential absence of Palmer places additional pressure on Jackson and other attacking players like Madueke and Félix to step up.

For Wolves, the challenge is even greater. Pereira’s side needs to tighten up defensively, particularly in the capital where their record has been woeful. At the same time, they must find a way to support Cunha, whose individual brilliance has often been undermined by a lack of contributions from his teammates. The return of Lemina could add some much-needed stability in midfield, but Wolves will need a collective effort to avoid a third consecutive heavy defeat.

In what promises to be an intriguing clash, both teams have plenty to prove. Chelsea will hope to end their winless streak and reassert their dominance at Stamford Bridge, while Wolves will look to defy the odds and pull off another upset in London. For Maresca, it is an opportunity to solidify Chelsea’s position in the top five and rebuild momentum for the remainder of the season. For Pereira, it is a chance to reverse Wolves’ fortunes and steer the team away from the relegation zone.

Ultimately, the outcome of this match could hinge on key individual performances, tactical adjustments, and the ability of both managers to inspire their teams. Whether Chelsea can capitalize on their home advantage or Wolves can spring another surprise remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: both sides will be desperate for a positive result to kickstart their respective campaigns in 2025.