The Matchday 22 clash in the Premier League between Chelsea and Wolverhampton will take place on January 20 at Stamford Bridge in London. Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Simon Hooper (England)
Matches – 12 (Premier League, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 54;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 8%.
Predicted lineups for Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez – Joshua Achimpong, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo – Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez – Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke – Nicolas Jackson.
Wolverhampton (3-4-2-1): Jose Sa – Matt Doherty, Santiago Bueno, Emmanuel Agbadu – Rayan Ait-Nouri, Joao Gomes, Andre, Rodrigo Gomes – Goncalo Guedes, Hwang Hee-chan – Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Each team's starting lineup from their last match in this tournament is listed.
Chelsea
The Londoners played two Premier League matches in January, both ending in draws: first on the road against Crystal Palace (1-1) and then at home against Bournemouth (2-2). The team is winless in the Premier League for five matches now (3 draws and 2 losses). Chelsea hasn't experienced such a winless streak in the league since August 2023. Enzo Moresca's side has dropped to fifth place, yet they are only one point behind Newcastle, who moved up to fourth (before the start of Matchday 22).
Forward Mykhailo Mudryk continues to serve a suspension due to a failed doping test. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are out due to injuries.
- Both teams scored in 6 of Chelsea's last 8 Premier League games.
- At least three goals were scored in 6 of Chelsea's last 8 home Premier League matches.
- The club has failed to win the second half in six consecutive league matches (2 draws and 4 losses).
Wolverhampton
The first month of the new year has been extremely unfortunate for the team. Vitor Pereira's side was thrashed in the league by Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, both with a score of 3-0. However, the team ended last year with two wins and a draw in the Premier League. Currently, the club is outside the relegation zone but only ahead of Ipswich, who are 18th, due to a better goal difference. Wolverhampton also remains the worst defensive side in this Premier League season, having conceded 48 goals.
Forwards Sasa Kalajdzic and Enso Gonzalez, defenders Mario Lemina, Tote Gomes, and Yerson Mosquera, as well as midfielder Boubacar Traore, are out due to injuries.
- At least three goals have been scored in 9 of the club's last 10 Premier League games.
- In their last 17 away league matches, Wolverhampton has secured just two wins (5 draws and 10 losses).
- In nine of Wolverhampton's last away Premier League matches, at least two goals were scored in the second half.
Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton: Match Prediction
Not long ago, the Londoners were considered Liverpool's main rivals in the fight for the Premier League title, but in the past month, the team hasn't secured a single win and has dropped out of the top four. To return to the Champions League zone, Enzo Moresca's side needs to win, preferably with a convincing result. Incidentally, in the first round, Chelsea thrashed this opponent on their turf with a 6-2 scoreline.
I expect the game to be high-scoring. At least three goals were scored in 5 of the last 6 head-to-head Premier League meetings. Additionally, such goal-scoring was seen in Chelsea's last four home Premier League matches, and both teams scored in 8 of the club's last 9 home league games. Also, at least three goals were scored in Wolverhampton's last nine away Premier League games.
My prediction – "Home win and total over 2.5 goals"
