Top four chasing Chelsea welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Stamford Bridge in the second of three Super Sunday games.
Victory for Chelsea will temporarily send them fourth for a few hours whereas Wolves can move closer to a potential Europa League spot if they collect all three points.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesChelsea have no fresh injury concerns with several first team regulars like Eden Hazard set for a recall, having been rested in midweek.
Marco van Ginkel is their only absentee as he continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Ryan Bennett is ruled out for Wolves as he commences a two game ban after collecting his tenth yellow of season last weekend against Cardiff.
Other than Bennett, Nuno Espirito Santo has a full squad available for selection.
Form
Chelsea are on a three match winning run across all competitions since their defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, keeping three clean sheets including the final itself.
The Blues however have won just two of their last five league games, with both victories coming at home.
Wolves however are unbeaten in nine of their last ten games in all competitions, managing just three clean sheets across that run.
On the road, Santo’s men have been quite consistent with two wins and losses plus a draw from their last five away league games.
Stat Attack
- Wolves’ 2-1 win in reverse leg ended a four match winning run for Chelsea across all competitions.
- At home, Chelsea are unbeaten in seven against Wolves, keeping clean sheets in six of those matches (W6, D1).
- Wolves are yet to lose in London this season, taking 11 points from five trips to the Capital (W3, D2).
- Chelsea have lost just one of their last 53 home games against newly promoted teams.
- Eden Hazard has made 11 league assists for Chelsea this season, more than any other player.
- Wolves’ Conor Coady has two own goals to his name this season alongside Watford’s Craig Cathcart and Southampton’s Wesley Hoedt.
- Chelsea are yet to score from a free-kick this season.
Prediction
Chelsea have been quite lucky to have come up against quite weak opposition recently (Spurs aside), so Wolves will be a stern test of whether Maurizio Sarri’s Blues have turned a corner or not.
Wolves however just need to play their usual game because if they sit back and play their high pressing, I can see Chelsea cracking at back the longer it stays goalless but they have improved their attacking play.
Ultimately Chelsea have lost just once at home in 2019 but Wolves are a difficult team to beat when in form.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jake predicts: Chelsea 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Result: Chelsea 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
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