Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Chelsea travel to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, hoping to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

The Blues beat Sheffield United last weekend to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League. Also, they beat Newcastle United in midweek on penalties to advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they have been tied with Middlesbrough next month.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side must quickly turn their focus to the league and get some momentum. They will be up against a Wolves side coming fresh off their worst performance of the campaign against West Ham away last weekend.

Chelsea Team News

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Enzo Fernandez will miss the trip to Wolves after the central midfielder was forced off with a groin problem against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.

On a positive injury update, Romeo Lavia could be back on Christmas Eve, while Noni Madueke and Lesley Ugochukwu have returned to full team training. However, Reece James has undergone hamstring surgery and will not be available for several weeks, joining the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka and Robert Sanchez in the treatment room.

Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Wolves (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic’s penalty shootout heroics helped Chelsea overcome Newcastle midweek in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge. He has done well since coming into the side for the injured Robert Sanchez, and the American will hope to keep a clean sheet against Wolves on Sunday.

Defence

Malo Gusto could be rewarded with a start after his impactful performance off the bench against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. His inclusion at right-back will see Axel Disasi shift across central defence, replacing Thiago Silva, who played the entire game in midweek, and as such the ageing defender’s workload needs to be managed well.

Benoit Badiashile, keen to atone for his mistake that gifted Newcastle the opening goal at Stamford Bridge, is expected to line up alongside Disasi at centre-back. Meanwhile, Levi Colwill is expected to start at left-back.

Midfield

Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher will remain in the middle of the park for now. Enzo Fernandez missing out with a groin problem should see Gallagher operate from a deeper role alongside Caicedo, with Cole Palmer pulling the strings from the No.10 role.

The trio will look to keep things ticking over and disrupt Wolves’ rhythm of play in the centre of the pitch.

Attack

Raheem Sterling will look to bring creativity and flair from the right flank against Wolves. Mykhaylo Mudryk could occupy the left-wing spot, having come off the bench and scored the vital equaliser at the death in the cup tie against Newcastle. The Ukrainian will be keen to build on that impactful cameo on Sunday.

Nicolas Jackson could retain his spot up top, despite being subbed off early in the second half against Newcastle in midweek. The Senegalese is the leading scorer for Chelsea this season with seven league goals, and he will look to add to his tally against Wolves.

Christopher Nkunku finally made his much-awaited Chelsea debut from the bench in the Carabao Cup victory over Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, and the French attacker could again get some minutes at Molineux as he looks to build his match fitness after a long injury layoff.