Preview: Chelsea travels to Wolves with the aim of moving back into the top four of the Premier League.
Chelsea travel to Wolves looking to move back into the Premier League’s top four.
The Blues, a point behind 5th-placed Manchester United, crashed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek after a 4-2 aggregate loss to Arsenal.
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The visitors remain at the bottom of the table, having picked up just eight points so far this term, cutting them to 18 points in the relegation zone and leaving them dry.
However, the start of 2026 saw a small revival for Wanderers as they picked up five points from their first three league games of the new year.
Their number in the new year is more than the previous 25 outings.
Both sides have changed managers, with Chelsea swapping Enzo Maresca for Liam Rosenior earlier in the year and Wolves replacing Vitor Pereira with former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards in November.
When the two sides met in league action earlier in the campaign, Chelsea came out on top three goals to nil at Stamford Bridge courtesy of second-half goals from Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto.
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But since the black and gold team returned to the Premier League in 2018, they have done better than Chelsea five times.
Things could go from bad to worse for Wolves this season, as they sold first-team striker Jorgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace on deadline day.
The Norwegian netted six times in all competitions this term, including an FA Cup hat-trick against Shrewsbury Town.
In the blue corner, though, summer signing Joao Pedro has been in fine form, finding the net five times and assisting once in his last six appearances for Chelsea.
The Brazilian played a key role in his side’s dramatic comeback last weekend, scoring Chelsea’s first goal and assisting South American Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner.
The centre-forward was also heavily involved in the melee at the end of the game, with West Ham United defender Jean-Clair Todibo showing red for violent conduct after grabbing Pedro by the throat.
Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer has struggled with injuries this season, playing 13 of his side’s Premier League games so far.
Speaking about the England international, head coach Liam Rosenior said, ‘He’s been bought and has been great.’ He wants to play every minute of every game.
“We know the player and the character that he is, but he’s also mature, and he understands the big picture, which is his career.”
The Blues boss believes Palmer will be able to feature for the full 90 minutes this weekend if needed.
Rosenior also confirmed that winger Jamie Gittens will miss Saturday’s match, as he has torn a hamstring and will be out for “a little bit longer”.
The match will take place on Saturday, 7 February, at the Molineux Stadium, with kick-off at 3pm UK time.
