Wolves vs Chelsea preview, predictions & possible XIs
With the first international break of the season done and dusted, the Premier League resumes this weekend with Wolves hosting Chelsea.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side haven’t started the season as planned, with the Europa League already proving an arduous task, as the West Midlands club currently occupy 17th position in the table.
The Blues have also stuttered in these opening weeks, with Frank Lampard’s side currently in the bottom half of the table, so a win at Molineux will go a long way towards reviving some optimism at Stamford Bridge.
Read on for team news, predictions and TV coverage information for Wolves vs Chelsea.
When is Wolves vs Chelsea and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Molineux Stadium
Date: Saturday, 14 September 2019
Kick-off: 3:00 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Wolves vs Chelsea
10 Mar 2019: Chelsea 1-1 Wolves (Premier League)
05 Dec 2018: Wolves 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
18 Feb 2017: Wolves 0-2 Chelsea (FA Cup)
25 Sep 2012: Chelsea 6-0 Wolves (League Cup)
02 Jan 2012: Wolves 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Wolves (DWLLL) 4-12 Chelsea (DLWWW)
Ones to watch
Wolves: Joao Moutinho
At 33, Wolves’ deep-lying Portuguese playmaker is showing no signs of slowing down and continues to function as a key cog in Nuno Espirito Santo’s well-oiled machine. With the seasoned central midfielder very much entering his twilight years, Wolves may have to wrap him in cotton wool at times this term, especially now that they’re in Europe – plus he continues to play for Portugal at international level – but when he’s unleashed, there are few on these shores who rival the diminutive metronome in terms of creativity and set-piece ability.
Moutinho has assisted nine goals since the start of last season, two thirds of which came from dead-ball situations. He has the highest total in the Premier League in that respect. Meanwhile, only one team conceded more goals than Chelsea (15) from set-plays last season.
Key stat: Joao Moutinho has created more chances than than any Wolves player in the Premier League this season (7).
Chelsea: Tammy Abraham
Having netted back-to-back braces for the Blues, Abraham is a man on a mission and appears to have cemented his status as Lampard’s undisputed No 9. With transfer embargo issues looming over Stamford Bridge, this academy product has proven the perfect tonic to remedying those shortcomings in the summer window. The 21-year-old looks at home in west London and is currently thriving up top.
Key stat: Tammy Abraham has taken more touches in the opposition box (16) in the Premier League than any other Chelsea player this term.
Team news
Wolves
Despite seeing a number of his squad leave for international duty, Espirito Santo has no fresh injury concerns to contest with other than Matt Doherty, who continues to recover from a serious knee problem.
Predicted XI: Patricio; Traore, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Jonny; Moutinho, Neves, Dendoncker; Jota, Jimenez.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Chelsea
Chelsea should be able to call upon Emerson, Pedro, Mateo Kovacic and Antonio Rudiger for the trip to Wolves, with the quartet all returning to fitness following injury issues. Saturday will be too soon, however, for N’Golo Kante, with the Frenchman yet to recover from an ankle injury which saw him sit out during the international break.
Predicted XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount; Pulisic, Abraham, Willian.
Squawka prediction
Scoring goals certainly hasn’t been an issue for Chelsea, but defensively they’ve looked more than susceptible, so expect a side as clinical as Wolves to breach Kepa’s net at least once. Molineux has proven something of a sanctuary for Wolves in recent seasons, so this looks an ominous task on paper for Lampard, with little separating these sides.
Scoreline prediction: Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
