Wolves and Chelsea face off at Molineux this weekend in the first Premier League match on Christmas Eve in almost two decades and the Old Gold’s first 24th December fixture at home since 1966.
#1 In both camps
Gary O’Neil admitted some his Wolves players played at West Ham last weekend while under the weather, with Nelson Semedo, Mario Lemina, Craig Dawson and Matheus Cunha all suffering from a bug before the match. Semedo has trained fully this week, while the latter trio have all missed parts of the group’s pre-Chelsea preparations as they continue to recover ahead of the Christmas Eve clash at Molineux. However, O’Neil has been given an early Christmas present with the return of Pedro Neto to full training after the winger missed the last two months with a hamstring injury, while Jose Sa, who was absent last weekend with a shoulder injury, is set to return between the sticks on Sunday.
Chelsea have their own injury worries heading into tomorrow’s meeting at Molineux, with several of their first-team stars currently sat on the treatment table. Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Reece James (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Ben Chilwell (thigh), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Trevoh Chalabah (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) and Lesley Ugochukwu are all expected to be out for long term having missed the Blues’ recent fixtures. One player who could be touch and go between now and 1pm on Sunday is midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who was pictured in tears following Chelsea’s win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday having been substituted on 32 minutes. But Mauricio Pochettino has received some good news with Christopher Nkunku making his return in midweek, scoring one of Chelsea’s four penalties in the shootout.
Still 🔝 of the @premierleague assists chart.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 21, 2023
👑 @pedrolneto7 pic.twitter.com/BhQdQqch6J
#2 Coming into it
Wolves’ form at Molineux continues to be in stark contrast to the results they have accrued away, with three wins and three draws from their last six at home compared to four defeats in a row on the road. Gary O’Neil’s side bounced back from successive defeats in the capital earlier this month by claiming victory over Burnley before a draw against Nottingham Forest, and after another loss in London last weekend, they will hope to replicate that result on Sunday.
Wolves’ last three | L 0-3 West Ham (A) – D 1-1 Nottm Forest (H) – W 1-0 Burnley (H)
Chelsea arrive at Molineux buoyed by their two outings during the last week, which has seen Mauricio Pochettino’s side win their first Premier League game in three against Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge, before making it into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in the most dramatic of circumstances as the Blues scored in the final minute of the game to take it to penalties before netting all their spotkicks to secure a place in the last four.
Chelsea’s last three | W 1p-1 Newcastle – W 2-0 Sheffield United (H) – L 0-2 Everton (A)
#3 Since last time
Wolves 1-0 Chelsea | 8th April 2023
Wolves’ last meeting with Chelsea was a tight affair which was decided with the club’s Goal of the Season winner, which inspired the Old Gold to three invaluable points in their battle against the drop. Matheus Nunes rifled the ball into the top corner from a tight angle just after the half-hour mark to provide the springboard for a brilliant Wolves performance, full of guts and determination, which earned a first Premier League win in four attempts.
Wolves’ XI | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti, Gomes, Lemina, Nunes, Podence, Cunha, Costa.
From the Chelsea team which started against Wolves at Molineux in April, just three players were present on Tuesday evening in their Carabao Cup victory at Stamford Bridge, Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Raheem Sterling, while Mykhailo Mudryk came off the bench in both matches, with the Ukrainian scoring the vital equaliser in midweek. Benoit Badiashile is the only other player to feature in both squads, after being an unused substitute last time the Blues were at Molineux, the French centre-back made his first Premier League start of the season against Sheffield United on Saturday and was back into the side against Newcastle on Tuesday.
Chelsea’s XI | Arrizabalaga, James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Fernandez, Kovacic, Gallagher, Sterling, Felix, Havertz.
#4 In the media
BBC Radio WM commentator Mike Taylor has discussed Wolves’ attempts to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-0 loss against West Ham against Chelsea, and believes Gary O’Neil will need a stronger performance on Christmas Eve.
“Sunday’s performance at West Ham was not well received by Wolves supporters. It was their heaviest defeat since a blitz of Brighton goals at Molineux in August, and the manner of the goals - all stemming from Wolves losing the ball a long way from their goal - was untidy. O'Neil also pointed to other contributing factors, including the fitness of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Pedro Neto, and illness carried through the game by several key players.
“Wolves might also have come back to 2-1 had Pablo Sarabia cut his toenails that morning - although O'Neil made no criticism of the VAR ruling of offside that denied him - and at that point the momentum in the game might have changed. The sharper criticism since the weekend may partly be due to raised expectations following some of the spectacular results gained earlier this season. A longer view is more forgiving, and O'Neil can reasonably hope for better times ahead as players return.”
Simon Phillips of Talk Chelsea believes there is one key thing Mauricio Pochettino’s men must do against Wolves if they are to get a positive result this festive period.
“It’s a game that is really there to be attacked from the off and for Chelsea to go on the front foot. We have absolutely bossed our last two games, with 78 per cent possession against Newcastle, and the same percentage against Sheffield United. Wolves are unlikely going to be matching up to Chelsea’s possession, but they have certainly been a side who do like to try and be on the ball as much as they can be, and this might open the game up for Chelsea.
“I fully believe we should take the game to them by using natural full backs. I think our attack needs it to be cut-throat. If you look at all the top sides, they will utilise full backs as attackers, and that’s what we have been missing by using centre backs there.”
