2024-08-26 00:10:01
Chelsea showed their attacking potential to give Enzo Maresca a first-ever top-flight win as a manager, as they swamped a defensively-dreadful Wolves to win 6-2 in the Premier League.
An even first half saw the scoring go back and forth, Nicolas Jackson’s early opener cancelled out by Matheus Cunha before Cole Palmer and Jorgen Strand Larsen swapped strikes right before the break.
But after the restart it was all about the blues’ attack, with Noni Madueke scoring a hat-trick – all set up by Palmer – and sub Joao Felix adding a late sixth on his second debut for the club to give the Maresca era a big first league win and plenty of talking points. For Wolves, a fast improvement is needed after they disappeared entirely, leading to a mostly empty stadium by the final whistle.
Follow all the reaction from Wolves vs Chelsea in the blog below
Wolves vs Chelsea LIVE
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Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Gomes; Cunha, Larsen, Hwang.
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Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.
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Goal – Jackson gives Chelsea lead after just two minutes
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Goal – Cunha fires in to level up for Wolves after half an hour
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Goal – Palmer scores brilliant lob right before the break to restore Chelsea’s lead
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Goal – Strand Larsen immediately equalises with finish on the stretch
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Goal – Madueke scores straight after half-time for 3-2 to Chelsea
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Goal – Madueke nets his second from Palmer assist
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Goal – Madueke completes his hat-trick with low finish after an hour
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Goal – Joao Felix scores off the bench on his second debut for Chelsea
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 – 6 Chelsea FC
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:30 , Karl Matchett
At the other end of the scale, while the defensive unit must be questioned, Jose Sa in particular was very poor in goal. Nothing he could do about some, like Felix’s finish, but conceding six from eight shots on target isn’t a great look – three went through or straight past him.
Wolves actually had a better xG than Chelsea for the game, believe it or not: 1.92 – 1.56.
Wasn’t anything like a close finish to the actual scoreline, however.
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:23 , Karl Matchett
For Wolves, there were positives to pick out in individuals, but certainly not defensively or in that team performance.
In attack, Cunha was typically excellent but Jorgen Strand Larsen served notice he’ll be vital for them if he’s fit and given service – lots of work rate, created a couple of openings, scored with a deft touch and kept the Chelsea defence guessing.
Lemina kept up his level, too.
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:12 , Karl Matchett
Madueke will get the headlines for his treble but Cole Palmer produced the goods today too – not a non-stop performance for him but one beautiful goal and three assists – all for Madueke – clearly mark him out as a key player for Maresca once more.
Ideal for Maresca in attack too, with both starter and sub up front scoring, Jackson and Felix.
FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:05 , Karl Matchett
One or two boos as the full time whistle goes, but in truth most of the Wolves fans have either gone or gone quiet long ago.
Madueke hands his jersey to an elderly fan in the crowd, hops back over the barriers and off he goes in search of the matchball – he scored a hat-trick to clinch the points.
90+6’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
16:03 , Karl Matchett
So much space in front of the Wolves defence – the running has stopped and so have the challenges.
Felix turns again and drives on for 15 yards, but picks Neto instead of Madueke for the pass and it’s intercepted.
Much to ponder for Wolves before their next match, against Burnley in the League Cup in midweek and then Forest next week in the league.
90+2’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:57 , Karl Matchett
Into stoppage time we go and we’ll have eight minutes for unknown reasons. Lots of goals and subs sure, though the first 30 seconds of celebration time aren’t supposed to be added on any more.
Madueke rockets another shot wide from the edge of the box, as Doyle comes on as a late Wolves sub.
It’s all but done now here, pending any more late disasterclasses at the back for the home team.
88’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:54 , Karl Matchett
Just a couple of minutes left for Wolves to endure – plenty of their fans have already departed, of course.
Chelsea will be thinking they are in a good spot to take on Servette in that second leg of the Conference qualifier in midweek, before then hosting Crystal Palace next weekend.
Meanwhile Nkunku and Felix link on the edge of the box but the latter’s shot is deflected over.
84’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:50 , Karl Matchett
Veiga and Nkunku on for Cucurella and Palmer in another double sub for Maresca.
How many positives can the Chelsea boss take from today? They certainly controlled more of the second half but it felt like Wolves stepped off, more than Chelsea forced them to.
This has been desperate defensive work from the hosts all the same, but the visitors were equally poor in their own third of the pitch first half.
Still, score six every week and you won’t lose too many…
GOAL! 80’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea
15:47 , Karl Matchett
Incredible, another goal – and Joao Felix has scored on his second debut!
A brilliant break down the left sees Neto surging into space behind the defence, he cuts it back right into the path of Felix who has run from deep and his first-time finish is controlled and clinical, side-footed hard past Sa and in for 6-2.
What a scoreline.
78’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:45 , Karl Matchett
Wow, what a finish – but it won’t count. A free-kick is clipped to Toti again and his header eventually lands to Lemina on the edge of the box – a half-volley scrapes off Dewsbury-Hall and in for 5-3…except the flag is up and Toti was offside from the initial set piece.
Chelsea still have a three goal lead.
74’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:41 , Karl Matchett
Caicedo initially continued after treatment but he’s down again now and will be replaced. Dewsbury-Hall comes on for him as Maresca has a word with Cucurella, presumably to keep his head after being booked.
A good away win this, once they see it out.
70’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:37 , Karl Matchett
Caicedo is down and needing attention after a big challenge from Mosquera – Chelsea players aren’t happy with the tackle and Cucurella gets right in his face, a few players quickly again coming together to clash for about the third time today.
Mosquera and Cucurella both booked.
66’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:34 , Karl Matchett
Well, if Maresca’s Chelsea side is just to be a “we’ll score more than you” type of team, they’ll be well worth watching this term.
Defensively they looked extremely vulnerable in the first half, but in attack Wolves haven’t come close to stopping them.
Joao Felix is coming on for Jackson – a second debut following his earlier loan.
Wolves swap Dawson, Sarabia and Rodrigo Gomes for Ait-Nouri, Cunha and Bellegarde.
GOAL! 62’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea
15:31 , Karl Matchett
Could be anything, this. Chelsea under pressure but two passes get them past Wolves’ midfield, Palmer runs in down the right channel and lashes a shot in near post – strikes the outside of the woodwork and wide, he should have passed across to Madueke.
It doesn’t matter though because Palmer immediately has another opportunity this time does roll in Madueke…and he buries his hattrick!
5-2 to Chelsea!
GOAL! 58’ – Wolves 2-4 Chelsea
15:25 , Karl Matchett
And that might be enough for the Blues! Cole Palmer finds space, frees Madueke on the overlap and the right winger drills one through the legs of Sa, who has been beaten by everything today.
It’s 4-2 to Chelsea and they have a two-goal lead for the first time today.
54’ – Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
15:23 , Karl Matchett
Colwill drives past Ait-Nouri who takes him down – the left-back is on a yellow card, remember.
Lemina drills one over the bar from range for Wolves, minutes after the home crowd berate Hwang for moving out of a challenge with Neto.
GOAL! 49’ – Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
15:15 , Karl Matchett
What is going on in this game! Out of nothing again, Chelsea just switch it left to right, Madueke drifts in and shoots – it hits Ait-Nouri and bounces past Sa into the far corner, Chelsea ahead for a third time!
48’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
15:14 , Karl Matchett
Enzo Fernandez robbed of the ball once more – he hasn’t had a great game so far. Wolves looking to keep the pressure on in the middle of the park, where Gomes and Lemina have had the upper hand so far.
46’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
15:12 , Karl Matchett
Back underway. Sub for Chelsea at the break now as Pedro Neto is on for Mudryk. He’s straight into the action against his old team but Mosquera is there to fend him off.
15:03 , Karl Matchett
Well, a lot to unpack there:
Nicolas Jackson headed in the opener with basically the first attack of the game, a corner after two minutes.
The Blues were stronger in that early period but Wolves came back into it, had one disallowed and missed a couple of other chances – then Matheus Cunha barrelled in the equaliser after a great Ait-Nouri run.
It looked like that would be it for the first half as both spurned chances, but a long Sanchez pass found Jackson, who hooked one on for Cole Palmer – and he produced a great lob to put Chelsea back ahead.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, though, Wolves were level once more as Jorgen Strand Larsen stretched out a boot to make it 2-2 from a Toni knock-down.
HT: Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
14:57 , Karl Matchett
A wild half comes to a close with a mid-air crash but Gomes and Jackson are fine after some treatment.
Four goals, a whole host of other chances and plenty of very questionable defensive work.
Both managers might want a word to tighten things up!
GOAL! 45+6’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
14:53 , Karl Matchett
…and would you believe it, we’re all square again!
A clipped ball to the far post sees Toti nod across the six-yard box, no Chelsea defender is faced the right way to clear and Strand Larsen is there to reach out a big right leg and divert it past Sanchez and in!
It’s back to all square, 2-2 before the break.
45+4’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea
14:51 , Karl Matchett
Well inside stoppage time – elsewhere Bournemouth lead Newcastle. You can follow that in our other live blog running alongside this one.
No great push from Wolves to get themselves back on level terms and they look a bit deflated after conceding that soft second goal.
Madueke fouls Cunha about eight yards outside the box and there’s a final chance to deliver for the hosts before the break…
GOAL! 45’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea
14:47 , Karl Matchett
Scrap all of that!!
Wolves’ free-kick ends up wide, Chelsesa launch it forward, Jackson flicks it on and Palmer runs in to clip a lobbed finish, first time, over Sa and into the net from 25 yards!
Fantastic finish and timing from the attacking midfielder but how have Wolves switched off like that before the break, Toti was the only one back!
Six minutes added on.
44’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:45 , Karl Matchett
Final minutes before the break and it was so close a brilliant goal with the move of the game! Joao Gomes drags Wolves upfield once more and Lemina then splits the defence with a take-on and a pass, the cut-back finds Cunha and his strike is deflected past Sanchez and onto the crossbar by Colwill!
Almost brilliant but Chelsea escape and will probably be glad to get into the dressing rooms level, despite that fast start they made. Cole Palmer is then next into the book for berating the ref after a foul.
40’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:41 , Karl Matchett
A total mix-up between Toti and Sa as a bouncing ball is left by both, then gone for by both – it bounces off the keeper, hits the onrushing Jackson on the heel and rolls away to safety. Massive let-off for Wolves.
Neto – and Joao Felix – go out for a warm-up with a few minutes left before the break. Interesting to see what reception he gets if the ex-Wolves man comes on.
Five minutes until the interval. Gusto is booked now for tripping Cunha who was off on a counter – bit of a dramatic fall but it was certainly card-worthy for stopping the attack in any case.
36’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:37 , Karl Matchett
Yellow card for Ait-Nouri now and a shooting chance from the free-kick for Cole Palmer, who has been a little quiet in the last 15 minutes. Straight into the wall. Strand Larsen leaps and heads it away, goes down, shakes it off and gets on with it.
Think they love him here already, plenty of chasing, challenging and genuinely smart hard work.
32’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:34 , Karl Matchett
Ait-Nouri pings a brilliant cross from the left this time and it’s just a yard ahead of Larsen, who is stretching in the middle to reach it.
Chelsea struggling to match their own early intensity and in this entire half it has seemed both teams could score every time they reach the penalty box.
Another corner is swung in from the right but the blues this time repel the danger – and the second delivery.
GOAL! 27’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
14:30 , Karl Matchett
It has been coming…and now Wolves are level! Ait-Nouri strides forward after winning the ball, beats Fernandez twice and flicks a reverse pass to Cunha who blazes a finish high and central past Sanchez and in for 1-1!
Great run from the left-back, fine finish.
Yet again after the goal goes in, there’s a clash between both sets of players – unclear if definitely that’s Cunha saying something to Jackson because of what he said after the first goal, but it looks like it.
The ref has a word with all involved and on we go.
24’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:26 , Karl Matchett
Lemina is the new Wolves captain and he makes a brilliant recovery challenge on Mudryk here, sliding back as the Ukrainian threatens to sprint away into the box.
Doherty is down now and needing some attention for Wolves – they are without Nelson Semedo through suspension at right-back, remember.
20’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:21 , Karl Matchett
Crazy match! Shouldn’t really still be 1-0. Chelsea spurn another chance with a shot from Madueke causing problems but Palmer and Jackson unable to get control to shoot afterwards.
Then it’s back down the other end and Larsen crosses low again for Cunha at the far post – this time he pokes wide on the stretch!
Sa needs a bit of attention with a possible hamstring issue but there’s a bit of treatment and on he goes.
17’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:18 , Karl Matchett
Nobody is defending in this game! Jackson breaks through behind the defence and is in on goal before Mosquera makes a great recovery run and challenge, then 10 seconds later Larsen is through, squares for Cunha and he finishes beyond Sanchez – but the offside flag is up against the new addition.
VAR confirms it and we stay at 0-1.
14’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:17 , Karl Matchett
Cunha runs in behind the defence this time and slides for a ball which is just overhit – Sanchez is out quickly and deflects it away bravely, both players colliding but fine to get up and continue.
Now Wolves are just showing their teeth and getting a few passes together in the final third finally.
Cucurella loses out but a combination of Fofana and Gusto clears the latest moment of danger. Now it’s Chelsea who need to wake up and find some control.
10’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:12 , Karl Matchett
Very close to an equaliser from this corner too – the right-footed delivery from Cunha is met by Mosquera with a giant leap and powerful header, but his effort flies just past the post instead of inside it.
Strand Larsen is next to try running at the Chelsea defence but he’s closed out by Fofana – the on-loan attacker tries to get the crowd going, since none of the football has so far.
6’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:10 , Karl Matchett
The home side still haven’t really got to grips with Chelsea and have hardly had a spell of possession so far.
Chelsea looking to press their early advantage and make the most of that brilliant start.
Now a first ball out to the left for Bellegarde to race at the defence sees Wolves win a corner – good recovery from Gusto to track back and make the challenge.
GOAL! 2’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
14:05 , Karl Matchett
And from the resulting set piece, the first goal of the game! Palmer’s corner comes in and is flicked on by Cunha, but totally unmarked at the far post is Nicolas Jackson who rises and buries a header past Sa and in!
Not even two minutes on the clock and the visitors are in front.
A bit of a skirmish in the aftermath of the goal between two sets of players but Wolves are behind and pay the price for that very slow start!
1’ – Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
14:03 , Karl Matchett
First opening for the visitors as Noni Madueke skips inside and shoots low – Sa forced into a good save! Wolves need to wake up, they look sluggish and a bit off the early pace.
0’ – Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
14:02 , Karl Matchett
We are underway! Chelsea get us kicked off after a minute’s applause.
Two clubs who lost last weekend, both hopeful of far more in the season to come.
Cole Palmer lining up centrally for the Blues, just off the striker – how much havoc can he cause?
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:55 , Karl Matchett
Into the final minutes ahead of the start of Sunday’s action – elsewhere you can follow Bournemouth vs Newcastle live too but we’ll be sticking with Wolves against Chelsea right here.
Later we will of course have full coverage of Liverpool vs Brentford and Arne Slot’s first home competitive match in charge of the Reds.
Next up is all the action from Molineux!
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:51 , Karl Matchett
Not sure about the relevance given the change-around on and off the pitch at Chelsea, but these two sides last met in early February at Stamford Bridge…and Wolves won 4-2.
Cole Palmer and Thiago Silva scored for the hosts, but Matheus Cunha hit a hattrick and Axel Disasi scored an own goal to give O’Neil’s side the points.
That made it a double for the campaign following a 2-1 win at Molineux, with Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty scoring before a very late Christopher Nkunku consolation.
How will today pan out?
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:46 , Karl Matchett
With the transfer deadline less than a week away now, the new Chelsea head coach has made it clear to his bosses that there are a group of players he doesn’t want involved…and won’t have in his training sessions.
“At the moment, with the squad that we have, I am working with 22, 23 or 21 players – not with the 42 players, otherwise it is impossible,” Maresca said.
“It is impossible for any manager in the world to make a session with 45 players. It’s impossible. You cannot do that.
“I just communicate [to the sporting directors] the players that I like and the players I don’t like and because there is one week […] left of the transfer window, hopefully we can find solutions for all of them.
“When you find solutions, everyone is happy. When you don’t find a solution, then you can create some problems.”
Time running down for a whole host of would-be starters and even internationals in some cases…
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:41 , Karl Matchett
Last Premier League season for Wolves as an overall glance:
Top scorers – Hwang and Cunha, 12 apiece
Most big chances created – Sarabia, 9
PL rank for:
Possession – 11th, 49%
Clean sheets – 15th, 5
xG – 17th, 47.6
Shots on target per match – 15th, 4.2
Touches in opposition box – 19th, 795
xG conceded – 6th, 68.9
Penalties conceded – 2nd, 8
Yellow cards – 2nd, 100.
Clear areas of improvement for Gary O’Neil to find this term!
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:35 , Karl Matchett
Pedro Neto is of course involved for Chelsea against his former club – he’s sub once more, but the forward is likely to feature after a handful of minutes off the bench against Man City last weekend, then a start and nearly an hour of gametime in midweek.
Chelsea beat Servette 2-0 in a Conference League qualifier, Neto managing one shot and 29 touches in his 57 minutes of action.
The 24-year-old struggled again with injury last term but still scored two and assisted nine in just over 1,500 minutes for Wolves.
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:27 , Karl Matchett
Not that we should ever read too much into preseason results, but Wolves beat West Ham and lost to Crystal Palace this summer – while also beating RB Leipzig and losing to Rayo Vallecano.
A very mixed bag, to say the least.
Their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League season was far from too damaging, given it was away from home, but they’ll certainly want to give a good account today on home soil and not start the campaign with successive defeats.
Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates
13:20 , Karl Matchett
Wolves are without the suspended Nelson Semedo and striker Sasa Kalajdzic – who is still on their books but who suffered a third ACL injury last term and is still in rehab.
For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are of course the high-profile casualties of Enzo Maresca’s decisions over his squad this season, but Axel Disasi, Reece James and Djordje Petrovic are others not even involved in the squad, for a variety of reasons.
A lot of work to do behind the scenes to trim that squad…and salary bill.
Why isn’t Wolves v Chelsea on TV?
13:14 , Karl Matchett
Wolves and Chelsea will bid to bounce back from opening weekend defeats as the two sides meet at Molineux.
Both clubs fell to 2-0 defeats to last year’s Premier League title chasers, with Gary O’Neil’s side beaten by Arsenal and Chelsea unable to overcome the off-field chaos at the club against Manchester City.
Enzo Maresca has since secured his first competitive victory as manager of the London club in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie against Servette, though his pre-match comments about his bloated squad at Stamford Bridge raised eyebrows.
Chelsea’s European business forced the rescheduling of this fixture from Saturday to Sunday, but it will not be shown live on television in the United Kingdom.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Why isn’t Wolves v Chelsea on TV?
Chelsea could still raise a fortune this summer
13:07 , Karl Matchett
Joao Felix is in the door, Conor Gallagher has gone – but there’s still plenty more transfer business which could be done by Chelsea yet, particularly with regards to outgoing links.
There are a handful here of which still could get done before deadline day…
Ten players Chelsea could sell to fund summer spending spree
Wolves vs Chelsea
12:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca heavily praised Noni Madueke after that Conference League play-off first leg win, so a start always felt a possibility here. More of a surprise, though, is the inclusion of Mykhailo Mudryk – for all of his natural gifts, the Ukraine winger continues to struggle for consistency.
“We’re going to try to help him to change,” said Maresca of Mudryk on Thursday. “We’re going to bring him the ball in the last third, and when he’s there he has to take the right decisions.
“The mistakes he makes are not technical, they are about choices. It’s about decision making. Hopefully we can help him and we can improve that.”
Enzo Maresca wants Noni Madueke to stay at Chelsea after goal against Servette
Wolves vs Chelsea team news
12:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There is no Romeo Lavia in the Chelsea squad, which is presumably related to injury given the midfielder was one of their best against Manchester City.
Team news – Chelsea
12:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, rewards Noni Madueke with a start after his goalscoring cameo against Servette. Mykhailo Mudryk also earns an opportunity on the wing with Cole Palmer, it would seem, moving into a central role.
Joao Felix is on the bench.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.
Team news – Wolves
12:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Let’s start with the hosts’ line-up, though, as Gary O’Neil makes a single change to his Wolves side – Matheus Cunha is promoted after featuring off the bench against Arsenal.
Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Gomes; Cunha, Larsen, Hwang.
Wolves vs Chelsea
12:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil insisted on Friday it was “pretty much impossible” to predict the Chelsea line-up they will face this afternoon.
Chelsea have brought in 10 new players since new boss Enzo Maresca walked through the door at Stamford Bridge, including former Wolves talisman Pedro Neto.
Neto faces a quick return to Molineux on Sunday when he revisits Wolves with his new club after making his Premier League debut in their defeat to Manchester City last week.
O’Neil was interested to see whether Neto would be included to play in front of the fans that used to sing his name after he also appeared in Chelsea Europa Conference League qualifying victory over Servette on Thursday night.
He told a press conference: “It’ll be interesting to see what they do with him.
“Obviously he played yesterday, we’ll see whether he can go again on the weekend and start again on the Sunday.
“It’s pretty much impossible for me to predict the Chelsea line-up but, there are so many there.
“We know some that definitely won’t be in the team but figuring out what they’re going to do will be tough.
“We will try and give the best account of ourselves and try start the Premier League season at home with a win, which will be huge for us.”
New signing Joao Felix is ‘player that will help us’ says Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca
12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca tells Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell to leave or ‘struggle’ at Chelsea
12:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enzo Maresca has advised Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell that they will have to leave Chelsea to play regular football, but insisted that his bloated squad was “not a mess”.
The London club secured their latest summer signing on Wednesday as Joao Felix sealed a return to Stamford Bridge, with Conor Gallagher completing a move the other way to Atletico Madrid.
It now leaves the club looking to offload perhaps as many as a dozen players before the end of the transfer window as they try to whittle down their senior playing group.
Enzo Maresca tells Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell to leave or ‘struggle’ at Chelsea
Raheem Sterling training at home amid bitter Chelsea fallout – as Pedro Neto takes shirt number
12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One player who will not be involved today is Raheem Sterling, who has been training on his own since last week after Chelsea made it clear that the England international is not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.
Chelsea have already left Sterling out of their two matchday squads this year.
Sterling training at home amid bitter Chelsea fallout – as Neto takes shirt number
Wolves vs Chelsea – early team news
12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Gary O’Neil confirmed on Friday that Wolves have no fresh injury concerns, with Matheus Cunha ready for “more minutes” after appearing off the bench against Arsenal. Nelson Semedo featured for the club’s U21s on Friday as he builds up his fitness while suspended.
Enzo Maresca made nine changes for the Conference League play-off win over Servette, but is likely to return to a similar side to the one beaten by Manchester City. Reece James remains suspended and is also dealing with a hamstring issue; Ben Chiwell and Raheem Sterling are among those training away from the first-team squad having been told they are surplus to requirements.
Wolves vs Chelsea
Friday 23 August 2024 15:36 , Sonia Twigg
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live build up and coverage of Wolves vs Chelsea.
The Blues are still looking to get off the mark in the Premier League following an opening-day defeat to Manchester City, while some of their fans remain aggrieved at the signing of home favourites like Conor Gallagher.
Enzo Maresca is still finalising his first-team squad, but some players, including Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have already been told they are not part of the new manager’s plans this season.
