Chelsea suffered a painful 4-1 defeat against Liverpool, with the Reds dominating the game, led by Conor Bradley's standout performance. Despite a late consolation goal from Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea couldn't overturn the deficit. Their recent form has been shaky, but they're determined to climb up the table.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers also faced disappointment, losing 4-3 to Manchester United after a rollercoaster of late drama. Despite a spirited comeback with goals from Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, they were stunned by a last-minute winner from Kobbie Mainoo. The loss ended their seven-game unbeaten streak and left them just behind Chelsea in the standings.
Both teams are eager to put these defeats behind them and secure a much-needed win. Chelsea, in particular, are eyeing a climb up to eighth place, provided other results go their way. However, Wolverhampton Wanderers won't make it easy, especially considering their recent success against Chelsea, including a notable win at Stamford Bridge in the previous season.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Despite Senegal's early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, Nicolas Jackson wasn't reintegrated into Pochettino's squad in time for the loss to Liverpool. However, the striker is expected to make his domestic comeback against Wolves.Unfortunately, Levi Colwill remains sidelined with a tendon problem, and several players, including Lesley Ugochukwu, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, and Trevoh Chalobah, are still unavailable.
Considering the disappointing performance against Liverpool, Pochettino is likely to consider Jackson, Nkunku, and Malo Gusto for the upcoming game. Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke, and Ben Chilwell, who was booked for diving in a troublesome cameo, were subbed off during the interval.
On the other hand, the Wolves' medical team has a relatively easy time as they have no injured players to attend to at the moment. However, Boubacar Traore and Hwang Hee-chan are still involved in continental competitions with Mali and South Korea, respectively.
With a tight schedule of fewer than 72 hours between fixtures, O'Neil needs to carefully evaluate his squad's fitness and may consider a few changes. A possible recall for Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left flank and a challenge to Tommy Doyle's spot in the midfield from Joao Gomes are potential adjustments.
Sarabia's well-taken penalty could also increase his chances of replacing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in the attacking third.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Nkunku, Sterling; Jackson
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Neto; Cunha
EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 3-2 Wolves
However, Gary O'Neil's Wolves shouldn't be underestimated, especially considering their recent win against Chelsea on December 24th. Yet, it's been a long 45 years since Wolves last won at Stamford Bridge. It's likely that Chelsea's revamped attacking lineup will continue to shine, extending that streak.
