Wolves beat Chelsea 2-1 at Molineux on Sunday as a special Christmas Eve game ended with a well-deserved victory for the hosts.
Chelsea’s nightmare continued before Christmas as Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lost four-straight away games and are now 14 points off the Premier League’s top four.
Chelsea wasted big chances in the first half but Wolves started the second half superbly as Mario Lemina gave them the lead, then Matt Doherty put them 2-0 up in stoppage time. Christopher Nkunku jumped off the bench and pulled a goal back in the 96th minute but Chelsea couldn’t find a late equalizer as their woeful 2023 continues.
Wolves now have 22 points and have beaten Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea at home as Molineux has become a fortress for Gary O’Neil’s side. Wolves are level on points with Chelsea, who have now won just 10 of their 41 Premier League games in the calendar year of 2023.
Chelsea’s issues summed up in one game
They started the game well but didn’t take big chances as Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja were wasteful. They didn’t defend properly at key moments. They didn’t have the energy to sustain attacks and were overrun in midfield by Wolves’ duo of Lemina and Gomes. That is so anti-Pochettino and you can tell it hurts the Argentine coach deeply. Chelsea are 14 points off the top four and are way behind their target for the season. Christopher Nkunku scored late on off the bench to give Chelsea hope they finally have their clinical forward to finish off the big chances they are creating (see graphic below) but there are so many issues with this side which can’t all be down to a lack of goals and injury issues. At the halfway point of the season Chelsea are nowhere near where we thought they would be and Pochettino’s patience is wavering. The Chelsea owners have overseen a terrible 2023 and the best thing you can say about Chelsea right now is that it can’t get any worse than this. They hope.
36 - Chelsea have failed to convert 36 big chances in the Premier League this season (21/57 scored); the most of any team. Imprecision. pic.twitter.com/xPgKqSoL3Q
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 24, 2023
Wolves vs Chelsea player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com, you can see Wolves’ midfield were dominant as Gomes and Lemina were superb and never gave Chelsea control of that area.
What’s next?
Wolves head to Brentford on Wednesday, Dec. 27, while Chelsea host Crystal Palace on the same day.
How to watch Wolves vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 8am ET, Sunday (December 24)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Wolves vs Chelsea live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Wolves 2-1 Chelsea
The hosts were deserved winners as Chelsea started the game well but faded badly and just couldn’t live with Wolves’ energy. Pochettino looked devastated and upset. Not a Merry Christmas for Chelsea. But a very happy one for Wolves.
Nkunku heads home. Game on!? - Wolves 2-1 Chelsea (96th minute)
Sterling’s cross from the right loops up and Nkunku, who is totally unmarked, heads home.
Game. Set. Match. Matt Doherty slots home - Wolves 2-0 Chelsea (93rd minute)
That is that. Hwang cuts in from the left and plays it to Bueno who crosses and Badiashille can’t clear as Doherty slots home.
11 minutes of stoppage time
We are into 11 minutes of stoppage time due to that lengthy injury break for Craig Dawson. Chelsea are huffing and puffing. The cameras pan to their fans in the away end with their blue Santa hats on. At the moment it looks like being a blue Christmas for Chelsea.
Nkunku, Mudryk on and Chelsea almost equalize as Toti clears off the line
Pochettino has brought Nkunku and Mudryk on and the former almost equalizes. A high ball into the box causes problems as Sa can’t collect and the ball drops to Nkunku who prods towards goal and Toti Gomes clears off the line brilliantly. Chelsea pushing hard for the equalizer. Moments later Dawson blocks heroically and was hit in the process as he is subbed off after a lengthy delay. Wolves defending valiantly.
Hwang wants a penalty
Wolves are flying and Hwang is played in and goes down under pressure from Colwill. The foul is checked by VAR but no penalty kick is given.
Wolves lead and that was coming! Mario Lemina heads home - Wolves 1-0 Chelsea (51st minute)
A corner from the right finds Lemina in the center of the goal and he flicks home a header into the far corner. Molineux erupts. Wolves deserve that after their start to the second half.
Gomes clips the post, Petrovic denies Toti
Wolves have started the second half really well. Gomes sees his deflected shot graze the post, then a cross to the back post finds Toti Gomes unmarked but his header is straight at Petrovic who does well to push it away. Wolves are flying but Chelsea still look dangerous when they pour forward too. This game is really coming to life now.
Half time: Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea have been the more dangerous team but haven’t taken their chances and Wolves are hanging in there. Sterling had to square for that big chance and let’s hope Chelsea don’t rue that missed opportunity.
Sa mistake sees Palmer go close
First Jose Sa drops a free kick into the box from out wide, but he grabs it and then throws out to Sarabia who is under pressure. Palmer wins it and curls a shot on goal which takes a deflection and flies just over. So unnecessary from Sa to put his team under pressure like that.
Big chance for Wolves as Hwang fires over
A lovely ball over the top finds Hwang and he’s in on goal but fires just over. He was under no pressure and even though the angle was a little tight, Hwang has to hit the target there.
Wolves go close on the counter
A long back forward sees Semedo clip in a cross which is half cleared and Sarabia is there but his low shot deflects wide for a corner. That corner comes to nothing but just before half time this is better from Wolves.
Sterling goes close with a free kick, Sa then makes good save as Sterling wastes big chance
Wolves are doing their best to contain Chelsea but the Blues are creating plenty of problems with their fluid movement. Sterling whips a free kick just over. After a mistake from Sa as he plays it in to Gomes under pressure, Sterling then races free but Sa saves down low. But oh my, if Sterling had looked up and passed to his right he had two players ready to tap in to an empty net. Chelsea should be ahead.
Broja goes down in the box after Lemina’s tackle as Chelsea start well
Chelsea launch a counter and Sterling finds Broja who cuts inside but Lemina is there to make a tackle. But how much did he get of the ball? Broja went down as he cut inside but no penalty kick is given. Chelsea are playing direct and looking dangerous on the counter. Wolves are struggling to get out of their own half early on as Semedo then denies Jackson an effort on goal.
Wolves lineup
Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Gomes, Lemina, Ait-Nouri; Hwang, Cunha, Sarabia
Chelsea lineup
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Ugochukwu, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling; Broja
Focus on Wolves, team news
Getting the right balance in attack has been key for Wolves this season as Hwang, Cunha and Sarabia have lost their mojo a little in recent weeks. Pedro Neto being out injured is a big blow but Wolves hope he will return soon. O’Neil’s side have been really tough to play against as they are a well-structured unit and have a solid foundation in midfield and defense and then love to launch counters and make the most of any small mistakes from their opposition.
OUT: Jonny (disciplinary - club), Joe Hodge (shoulder)| QUESTIONABLE: Pedro Neto (thigh), Jose Sa (shoulder), Nelson Semedo (illness)
Focus on Chelsea, team news
Chelsea have so many injury issues but the big news is Nkunku returning. The form and fitness of the clinical French striker from here on out will surely be the difference between their season being a success of not. Poch dropping Enzo Fernandez last time in the Premier League out was a big call but proved to be the correct one, while the Argentine midfield now has a groin issue. Chelsea are still struggling to find their best lineup and combinations across the pitch and it’s still very much a work in progress but the festive period gives them the opportunity to kick on and quickly make up ground on those above them.
OUT: Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Reece James (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Enzo Fernandez (illness), Moises Caicedo (illness)