Wolves vs Chelsea: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :December 22, 2023 at 1:08 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 12:30 AM

A Christmas Eve fixture for the very first time in 28 years of Premier League action

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be back in action after a week this Sunday. Unprecedently, they will be playing the only Premier League match scheduled for Christmas Eve. Last Sunday, Wolves were up against David Moyes’s West Ham. The Hammers hammered 3-0 on the scoreline by the final whistle at the London Stadium.

Unfortunately, it is Chelsea who will have to do all the travelling on Christmas Eve. The Blues will have to make the 113-mile trip to Molineux Stadium to face the side led by Gary O’Neil. Mauricio Pochettino’s men were in action midweek in the EFL Cup quarter-finals. They were up against Newcastle United. A Mykhailo Mudryk equaliser in the added time led to penalties. The Stamford Bridge hosts won the shootout 4-2 and are now in the semi-finals.

Kick-Off:

Sunday, 24 December 2023 at 1:00 PM UK (6:30 PM IST)

Location: Molineux Stadium

Form

Wolves (in all competitions): L-D-W-L-L

Chelsea (in all competitions): W-W-L-L-W

Players to Watch

Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves)

Just today, the Wolves centre-forward penned a new deal with the club. The contract will run till 2028, showing the trust of both the player and the senior authorities. Hwang Hee-chan has been ever-present in the side’s Premier League campaign for the season. In 17 appearances the South Korean has 8 goals and 2 assists.

Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)

The fans will hope Christopher Nkunku will prove to be the star who will save the league season for Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino. After returning from a long-term injury, the attacking midfielder was given a good chunk of minutes in the Carabao Cup midweek. Nkunku even netted his penalty in the 4-2 shootout win over Newcastle. The time has arrived for the former RB Leipzig man to show why the Blues paid £52 million to sign him in the summer.

Match Facts

In the last 28 years, for the first time, an English flight match will be played on Christmas Eve
After 17 league games, Wolves are placed 13th with 19 points while visitors sit 10th with 22 points
In their last meeting which was also at Molineux, the home side had won 1-0 over Chelsea

Injury & Team News

Pedro Neto is back in training for a while and should at least make the Wolves bench. Jose Sá who missed the West Ham defeat due to a shoulder injury is back and was training in the week.

Christopher Nkunku is surely back after playing 20 minutes of football against the Magpies. Along with new additions – Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella to the injury list, Enzo Fernandez is also likely to miss the game reportedly due to a groin injury. The list already had – Trevoh Chalobah, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Noni Madueke. Ben Chilwell was seen in training and could make it to the Chelsea bench.

Head to Head

Total Matches: 20

Wolves: 4

Chelsea: 12

Draws: 4

Predicted Lineup

Wolves predicted lineup (3-5-2):

Sá (GK); Kilman, Dawson, T. Gomes; Semedo, Lemina, J. Gomes, Bellegarde, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Hwang

Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Petrović (GK); Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Nkunku, Sterling; Jackson

Match Prediction for Wolves vs Chelsea

Pedro Neto’s involvement could serve as a major boost for the hosts. However, the Blues did win two back-to-back fixtures in all competitions. This trip hopefully could be a welcoming third in a row for Nkunku and Co.

Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Chelsea

Telecast for Wolves vs Chelsea

India – Star Sports, Disney+ Hotstar

UK – Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon Prime Video

US – NBC, USA Network, Peacock

Nigeria – SuperSport, NTA, Canal+ Afrique

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