Wolves vs Chelsea: Live Updates, Lineups & How to Watch | Premier League Matchday 2

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 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.

Team News

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: Predicted Lineups

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.

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.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.

How to Watch Wolves vs Chelsea

The match will not be shown live on television in the United Kingdom. However, fans can stream the game live via the following options:

Wolves Official Website: The club’s website provides live commentary and updates. https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20240425-how-to-watch-wolves-vs-chelsea/
Premier League Website: The Premier League website offers live updates and commentary.
BBC Sport: BBC Sport provides live scores, analysis, and commentary. https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c8rx043lxdno
Vavel: Vavel offers live score updates, stream info, and match analysis. https://www.vavel.com/en-us/soccer/2024/08/25/1193565-wolves-vs-chelsea-live-score-updates-stream-info-and-how-to-watch-premier-league-match.html
Weaintgotnohistory: Weaintgotnohistory provides live stream links and live blog updates. https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2024/8/25/24227848/wolves-chelsea-premier-league-live-stream-time-tv-how-watch-online-live-blog-highlights

Wolves vs Chelsea: Match Preview

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.”

Wolves vs Chelsea: Head-to-Head

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: Matchday 2 Live Blog

Pre-Match

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.

First Half

14:03 , 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?

14:05 , 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.

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!

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.

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.

14:12 , 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.

14:14 , 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!

14:17 , 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.

14:18 , 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.

14:21 , 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.

14:26 , 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.

14:30 , 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.

14:34 , 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.

14:37 , Karl Matchett

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.

14:41 , 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.

14:45 , Karl Matchett

Six minutes added on.

14:47 , Karl Matchett

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...

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!

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...

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.

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!

Second Half

15:03 , 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.

15:12 , 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.

15:12 , 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.

15:14 , Karl Matchett

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!

15:15 , Karl Matchett

15:23 , 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.

15:25 , 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.

15:31 , Karl Matchett

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Full Time: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 - 6 Chelsea FC

The match ended with a resounding victory for Chelsea, who demonstrated an attacking prowess that overwhelmed Wolves' defense. Madueke's hat-trick stole the show, while Palmer's contributions proved instrumental in the Blues' success. Despite a promising start for Wolves, Chelsea ultimately controlled the match, showcasing their depth and ability to score goals from various sources. The result marks a significant step forward for Maresca's team, as they look to build momentum and establish their identity within the Premier League landscape. For Wolves, the defeat highlights a need for defensive improvement, as they aim to avoid another season of struggle. The match provided a captivating display of attacking football and serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and excitement that the Premier League can offer.