Chelsea have been one of the most active clubs in Europe in the transfer window, and have a chance to get their first points of the Premier League season against Wolves on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca’s side were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in their first game of the league season, but travel to Molineux on Sunday. The club have made huge changes this summer, including 11 signings and on Friday still had a squad of around 40 players. Some have been informed they are surplus to requirements, with Raheem Sterling training alone at home and Ben Chilwell also looking elsewhere.
The Chelsea fans expressed their displeasure with some aspects of the squad, notably the selling of home-grown talent Conor Gallagher, when they beat Servette 2-0 on Thursday in a Europa League Conference qualifier. Follow all the live action from Wolves vs Chelsea in the blog below
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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 15:03
HT: Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
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!
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:57
GOAL! 45+6’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea
…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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:53
45+4’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea
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…
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:51
GOAL! 45’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea
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!
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:47
44’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:45
40’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:41
36’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:37
32’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:34
GOAL! 27’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea
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.
Karl Matchett25 August 2024 14:30