PREVIEW: Chelsea head to Wolves with top four in sight

Chelsea journey to Wolves aiming to make a return to the Premier League’s high 4.

The Blues, some extent behind Manchester United in fifth, exited the Carabao Cup in midweek after a 4-2 mixture loss to Arsenal.

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The guests are nonetheless backside having picked up simply eight factors up to now this time period, leaving them lower and dry within the relegation zone by 18 factors.

Nonetheless, the beginning of 2026 noticed a small revitalisation for Wanderers as they picked up 5 factors from their first three league video games of the brand new 12 months.

Their tally within the new 12 months is greater than they’d managed within the prior 25 outings.

Each side have modified managers, with Chelsea swapping Enzo Maresca for Liam Rosenior on the flip of the 12 months and Wolves changing Vitor Pereira with former Luton City boss Rob Edwards in November.

When these two sides met in league motion earlier within the marketing campaign, Chelsea got here out on high by three objectives to nil at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of second-half objectives from Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto.

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However because the black and gold facet’s return to the Premier League in 2018, they’ve had the higher of Chelsea on 5 events.

Issues might begin to flip from dangerous to worse this season for Wolves as they offered first workforce striker Jorgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace on deadline day.

The Norwegian had netted six instances in all competitions this time period, together with an FA Cup hat-trick towards Shrewsbury City.

Within the Blue nook, although, summer time signing Joao Pedro is in nice type, discovering the online 5 instances and helping as soon as in his final six appearances for Chelsea.

The Brazilian performed an important position in his facet’s dramatic comeback win final weekend, scoring Chelsea’s first and helping fellow South American Enzo Fernández for a stoppage-time winner.

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The centre-forward was additionally closely concerned within the melee on the finish of the sport, with West Ham United defender Jean-Clair Todibo seeing purple for violent conduct after he grabbed Pedro by the throat.

Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer has been battling damage this season, solely that includes in 13 of his facet’s Premier League encounters up to now.

Talking on the England worldwide, head coach Liam Rosenior mentioned: He’s purchased in and been magnificent. He desires to be taking part in each minute of each sport.

“We all know the participant and the character that he’s, however he’s additionally maturing, and he understands the larger image, which is his profession.”

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The Blues boss believes Palmer will be capable to characteristic for the total 90 minutes this weekend, if required.

Rosenior additionally confirmed that winger Jamie Gittens is not going to characteristic in Saturday’s match after he suffered a torn hamstring and will probably be out “a little bit bit extra long run.”

The match will happen on Saturday, February seventh, at Molineux Stadium, with a 3pm UK time kick-off.