Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea will aim for their first win of the 2024/25 season when they clash at Molineux on Sunday.
Gameweek 2 of the 2024/25 Premier League season will conclude on Sunday, with the day witnessing three matches. The action will kick-start with two simultaneous fixtures, including Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Chelsea at Molineux. Both teams suffered 2-0 defeats on the opening matchday and will be eager to bounce back this weekend.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were solid in their pre-season campaign, winning four games and losing twice, with one of the victories coming against RB Leipzig. They have not been too busy in the market but have lost Pedro Neto to Chelsea. Meanwhile, the Black Country outfit began the 2024/25 season with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last week.
As for Chelsea, they blew hot and cold during their pre-season campaign, winning only six outings. The volatility at the West London club has invariably affected Enzo Maresca’s group, with the newly-appointed manager sidelining nearly two dozen players, including big hitters like Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell.
The Blues have unsurprisingly been the most active Premier League club in the market this summer, signing ten players to beef up an already bloated squad. Nine players have left the West London club, with at least a dozen likely to follow them out the exit door. Meanwhile, Chelsea began the 2024/25 season with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge but beat Servette in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff first leg.
Wolverhampton Wanderers had the upper hand over Chelsea in the 2023/24 season, winning both games. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Gary O’Neil does not have a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s first home game of the 2024/25 season. Against Chelsea on Sunday, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players.
Nelson Semedo is the most notable absentee, with the Portuguese full-back serving a suspension he accrued last season. Semedo accompanies Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Leon Chiwone (ankle), and Enso Gonzalez (knee) on the sidelines.
Jose Sa will take his spot between the sticks, with Wolverhampton Wanderers lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him against Chelsea. The backline should feature Matt Doherty, Yerson Mosqyera, Toti Gomes, and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina in the central positions. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park and allow Hwang Hee-chan and Pablo Sarabia more freedom from the wide areas. Finally, Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen will be the two strikers for the home side against Chelsea.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Hwang, Lemina, Joao Gomes, Sarabia; Cunha, Larsen
Chelsea
Like his counterpart in the Wolverhampton Wanderers dugout, Enzo Maresca does not have any new injury concerns to deal with ahead of the trip to Molineux. The Chelsea manager will be without one first-team player on Sunday.
Reece James is the only absentee, with the Chelsea captain unlikely to return before next month. Meanwhile, high-profile players like Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling have played their final games for the West London club, with Trevoh Chalobah, Armando Broja, and Kepa Arrizabalaga also in the same boat.
Predicting Chelsea’s starting eleven for any game is like picking lottery numbers. However, Enzo Maresca has alluded that Robert Sanchez is the Premier League goalkeeper. The visitors will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of the Spaniard against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the backline featuring Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia should pair up in the double pivot, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall reprising the no. 10 role. Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson will likely complete the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Palmer, Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku; Jackson
Key Stats
- Wolverhampton Wanderers have won their last three Premier League meetings vs Chelsea, as many as they had in their previous 17 attempts (D4 L10). The Blues are winless in four league games against the Black Country outfit since a 5-2 victory in September 2019 under Frank Lampard (D1 L3).
- Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 18 away games in all competitions since a 2-0 Premier League win at Fulham last October.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers have only won one of their most recent 12 competitive matches in all competitions since a 2-1 top-flight home victory against Luton in April (D2 L9).
- Enzo Maresca can become the first Chelsea manager to lose his first two top-flight fixtures in charge of the club since Gianluca Vialli lost the first three in 1998 (not including managers’ second spells at Chelsea).
- A goal for Pedro Neto would make him the fourth player to net a Premier League goal for and against Wolves, after Stephen Hunt, Diogo Jota and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Player to Watch
Pedro Neto
While Pedro Neto might not make his first Premier League start for Chelsea vs his former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, he will likely appear off the bench in the second half. So, an emotional return to Molineux is on the cards after several seasons with the Black Country outfit.
The Portuguese international is competing for spots in a crowded offensive department at Chelsea and must make his mark even if he gets ten minutes on the pitch. There might not be a better way to deliver the goods than by inspiring a win over his former club. How the Molineux faithful greet him might also determine the final product.
Prediction
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Chelsea
Wolverhampton Wanderers have had the upper hand over Chelsea in the most recent meetings between the two teams. However, the hosts have not been in good touch in the Premier League for months after hobbling towards the finish line in the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, the Blues have shown some positive signs under Enzo Maresca, even though the Italian tactician is battling volatility at the West London club. Neither team has the quality to trouble the two goalkeepers for long periods.
So, chances will come few and far between, although Chelsea should produce some eye-catching passes. Eventually, Pedro Neto might appear off the bench to condemn his former club to a narrow defeat, setting up a goal for a teammate in his trademark fashion. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-0 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.
