Enzo Maresca's Chelsea are set to welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Stamford Bridge on Monday night in what could be a significant match in the race for Champions League football and Premier League survival.
The Blues are fifth in the table with 37 points and are just one point from fourth-placed Newcastle United, while Wolves were beaten 3-0 by Newcastle on January 15 and are in 17th place with 16 points, level with 18th-placed Ipswich Town.
Match preview
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Chelsea were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by an injury-plagued Bournemouth last time out in the league on Tuesday, and were fortunate to take a point considering they only levelled the scoreline in the 95th minute thanks to Cole Palmer.
Some commentators thought that the Blues would be able to mount an unlikely title charge, but while Maresca has undoubtedly made progress with his young and talented squad, his side are 13 points behind leaders Liverpool.
The hosts are winless in their five most recent league outings, drawing three times and losing twice in that period.
Chelsea have worryingly found goals more difficult to come by in recent weeks given they have found the back of the net four times in their last five top-flight matches, though their record of 41 goals scored is still the fourth best return in the division.
Maresca's side have kept just four clean sheets in their 21 Premier League matches this season, and have conceded seven times in their four most recent games in the top flight.
Chelsea boast an exceptional record at home in 2024-25, winning 10, drawing four and losing just one of their past 15 at Stamford Bridge, though they have drawn one and lost one of their last three at home.
The Blues trounced Monday's opponents 6-2 at Molineux in the reverse fixture on August 25, with Noni Madueke netting a hat-trick.
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Wolves will feel they should have at least got on the scoresheet when they lost against Newcastle considering they created five big chances.
Manager Vitor Pereira won his first two league games in charge of the club – 3-0 and 2-0 victories against Leicester City and Manchester United – but he has lost two and drawn one of his subsequent three matches as boss.
If Wolves are relegated from the top flight at the end of the season, it will certainly not be because of a lack of threat in the final third considering they have scored 31 goals in the Premier League, the most of any club in the bottom nine barring Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Pereira's side have also conceded on 48 occasions, and that makes them the division's joint worst defensive team.
The visitors' form on the road in recent weeks is mixed given they have triumphed in two, drawn one and been defeated in three of their past six fixtures away from home.
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Chelsea are set to be without a number of players on Monday, including centre-backs Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana, while Levi Colwill is a doubt.
If Colwill is declared fit, he could be partnered by Trevor Chalobah, who was recalled from his loan with Crystal Palace earlier this week.
Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer are also doubts, though it would be surprising if the duo were miss out on starting spots considering how vital they are to the Blues.
Moises Caicedo is almost certain to play in midfield, and he could help support an attack featuring Jadon Sancho, Madueke and Nicolas Jackson.
Meanwhile, Wolves will not be able to select midfielder Boubacar Traore, so expect Andre and Joao Gomes to partner each other in the centre of the pitch.
Centre-backs Toti Gomes and Yerson Mosquera have been ruled out, and that could mean Matt Doherty, Santiago Bueno and Emmanuel Agbadou will start in a back three.
Elsewhere, winger Enso Gonzalez and striker Sasa Kalajdzic are unavailable, and though Matheus Cunha has been dealing with illness, he is still likely to appear in attack.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou; R Gomes, Andre, J Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Hwang, Cunha; Larsen
We say: Chelsea 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea could concede multiple chances on Monday given they may have to field a weakened backline, and their defensive frailty could provide Wolves with the impetus to attack.
However, Maresca should be confident that his team can at least avoid defeat considering his side's strong record at Stamford Bridge, and if Palmer is available, it is difficult to see how the visitors can keep their hosts from scoring.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
