Wolverhampton-Chelsea is a match of the 18th day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 2 pm: TV, lineups, predictions.
In the Premier League, for the first time in 28 years, it also takes the field on Christmas Eve: at Wolverhampton’s Molineux at lunchtime (in England), the hosts and Chelsea will compete.
The Wolves for now are not embroiled in the fight not to be relegated, being able to count on a lead of as many as 10 points over third-last Luton (which, however, has played one game less) but they are coming off an ugly defeat in London with West Ham (3-0) that left them in 13th place in the standings. In fact, the London performance of the black-and-golds was not entirely bad, with Kilman and his teammates unable to convert the numerous goal-balls created throughout the match, which were even more limpid than those of the Hammers, who were more cynical and inspired by a sumptuous Paquetà (three assists for the former Milan player). Away games thus continue to be a problem for Wolverhampton, whose last positive result away from the Molineux was the success at home to Bournemouth last October.
Blues hunting for second straight success
Chelsea, on the other hand, is chasing a second league win in a row after last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge.
(Enzo Fernandez IlVeggente.it (Ansa)
Palmer and Jackson restored Mauricio Pochettino’s smile after three defeats in the previous four games to Newcastle, Manchester United and Everton. During the week, the Blues also made it through the round in the League Cup, peeling off a pass to the semifinals: penalty kicks decided the match with Newcastle – Trippier and Ritchie’s mistakes being decisive – but Pochettino has mainly to thank Ukrainian Mudryk, author of the goal that in full recovery prevented Chelsea from another disappointment (1-1). The League Cup becomes, at this point, an important goal for the Londoners, who are far from the positions that count. The Argentine coach must always do without Sanchez, James, Cucurella, Fofana, Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Chalobah and is anxious about Enzo Fernandez, struggling with a hernia. In the Wolves should see Neto again, no problems for Jose Sà and Semedo.
The prediction
Wolverhampton’s is always a tricky away match and it could be even more so for a Chelsea that away from Stamford Bridge struggles and rarely manages to keep its goal unbeaten: it would not be a surprise if Wolves avoided defeat in a match with at least one goal on each side.
The likely lineups for Wolverhampton-Chelsea
WOLVERHAMPTON (3-5-2): Jose Sa; Kilman, Toti, Dawson; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Bellegarde, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Hwang.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Malo Gusto, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
