Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea are both looking to bounce back from disappointing two-goal defeats last weekend as they face off at Molineux on Sunday in their second Premier League match of the season.
Wolves, under Gary O'Neil, suffered a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in their opening game. It wasn't a shock when Wolves conceded first, with Kai Havertz heading in a cross from Bukayo Saka 25 minutes into the match.
Despite Arsenal's inability to extend their lead immediately, Wolves couldn't capitalize on their opportunities and eventually fell further behind when Havertz set up Saka for a second goal.
O'Neil took some positives from Wolves' performance, especially given they were up against last season's runners-up. However, he acknowledged that his team lacked the finishing touch that Arsenal had, leading to Wolves' fourth consecutive opening-day defeat.
Returning to Molineux might not bring much relief to Wolves fans. The team lost four of their final five home games in the 2024-25 season, with their only victory coming in a 2-1 win over Luton Town, who were relegated.
In fact, Wolves have suffered more home losses in 2024 than any other Premier League team. If they lose again on Sunday, O'Neil will become the first Wolves manager since Terry Connor in 2012 to oversee five consecutive top-flight defeats.
On the other side, Chelsea, led by Enzo Maresca, also endured a tough start to the season, losing to Manchester City. Even though City wasn't at their best, they still secured a comfortable win at Stamford Bridge.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring, and former Chelsea player Mateo Kovacic added a second, with Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez perhaps feeling he could have done better.
Chelsea fans were not happy with their team's first-half performance in Thursday's Conference League playoff against Servette, as they were booed off the field after a goalless 45 minutes. However, Christopher Nkunku's penalty and Noni Madueke's powerful strike in the second half salvaged the game for the Blues.
As Chelsea heads to Molineux, they're aiming for a third straight Premier League away win, having won at Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion last year. However, Wolves have proven to be a difficult opponent for Chelsea recently, with the Blues losing their last three encounters against them.
This includes a 2-1 defeat at Molineux on Christmas Eve 2023 and a 4-2 loss at Stamford Bridge in February, where Matheus Cunha scored a memorable hat-trick.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Wolves will be without right-back Nelson Semedo on Sunday as he serves the second of a three-game suspension for a red card he received on the final day of last season. This gives Matt Doherty another chance to step into the defensive lineup.
Wolves also continue to miss long-term injured players Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Leon Chiwone (ankle), and Enso Gonzalez (knee), with no clear timeline for their returns. There was some concern over Rayan Ait-Nouri, who had to leave the field late in the game against Arsenal, but he’s expected to be fit for Sunday’s match.
Matheus Cunha, who made a big impact with his hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season, only came on as a substitute in the second half against Arsenal. However, he’s likely to start in Wolves’ lineup this weekend, which could once again feature no English players under Gary O'Neil's management.
For Chelsea, manager Enzo Maresca mentioned after their victory over Servette that Cole Palmer, the PFA Young Player of the Year, experienced some hamstring discomfort. However, Maresca doesn’t think it will keep him out of Sunday’s game.
Captain Reece James is the only confirmed absentee for Chelsea due to his suspension and a thigh injury. With Maresca making nine changes for the Conference League match, more rotation is expected.
Romeo Lavia, who impressed against Manchester City, is in line for a starting spot, while Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are still sidelined and looking for new clubs before the transfer window closes on August 30.
Maresca hinted that it might be too soon for Joao Felix to make his return to the Chelsea lineup, and Pedro Neto, who used to play at Molineux, may have to settle for a spot on the bench.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Hwang, Lemina, J. Gomes, Sarabia; Cunha, Larsen
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Madueke, Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku; Jackson
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Wolverhampton Wanderas 1-2 Chelsea
That said, Chelsea should be riding high after their win on Thursday. With a deep squad and fresh players to call on, we believe Maresca’s team will manage to grind out a win against a Wolves side that hasn't been at their best, even if it’s not the most convincing performance.
