Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Wolves vs Chelsea in the Premier League
on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.
Team news
Wolves duo Fabio Silva and Yerson Mosquera have tested positive for
coronavirus.
On-loan South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan is doubtful because of an injury
he suffered in the 1-0 win at Brighton last time out while fellow attacker
Silva and defender Mosquera have recorded positive lateral flow tests.
Wolves are awaiting the outcome of the follow-up PCR tests ahead of a
fixture which is set to be one of only five in the top-flight taking place
this weekend, with four on Saturday postponed because of outbreaks at
several clubs.
Thomas Tuchel has admitted Chelsea could be forced into the "crazy"
situation of starting Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante in Sunday's Premier
League trip to Wolves.
Croatia midfielder Kovacic returned to training on Friday after isolating
due to Covid-19, while Kante was back on the bench after knee trouble in
Thursday's 1-1 draw with Everton.
Kovacic has not played since late October due to a hamstring strain, with
Kante not taking the field since late November.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek picked up an injury in the Everton draw, while Jorginho's
continued back problems leave him a doubt for the Wolves trip too.
Kai Havertz has tested negative for Covid and returned to training in a rare
boost to the Blues, who will still be missing Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and
Callum Hudson-Odoi at Wolves due to coronavirus isolation.
Jones Knows prediction
Chelsea are out to 8/1 with Sky Bet to win the Premier League title. They
were 15/8 in November.
To some that might look an attractive price for the Champions League holders
who are just four points off the top spot. However, over the past month
there have been signs emerging that Thomas Tuchel's boys are just a level
below Manchester City and Liverpool, to the extent now that I'd be very
surprised if they don't finish third.
Tuchel was at a loss to explain how they didn't comfortably beat Everton on
Thursday, calling it a freak result. It's true they found Jordan Pickford in
top form but what worried me was their lack of sustained, quality attacks in
the final 20 minutes when they were chasing a winner. It was the same in the
3-2 win over Leeds where two Jorginho penalties got them out of jail.
Chelsea are seemingly finding it tough to break through low block defences
without the influence and natural goal instincts of Romelu Lukaku.
Watch free highlights of this game after full time
And, well-organised low blow defences don't come tighter than Wolves, who
could be set to send Tuchel's frustrations levels off the scale in this one.
Bruno Lage's team have conceded only 14 goals this season - only Chelsea,
Man City and Liverpool have shipped fewer.
I can see this game going down a familiar low scroing path. Wolves took four
points off Chelsea last season, coming from behind to win 2-1 in this
fixture. And at the prices, I'm happy to back them to win or draw on the
double chance at 6/4 with Sky Bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
BETTING ANGLE: Wolves to win or draw (6/4 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
Wolves' home games have seen fewer goals scored than any other Premier
League side's this season (12 - F5 A7), with no side netting fewer home
goals so far this term than Wolves.
At West Ham last time out, Chelsea lost away from home in the Premier League
under Thomas Tuchel for just the second time. The Blues last lost
consecutive away league games in December 2020 - a run of three, in which
the second defeat was against Wolves.
Wolves' last six Premier League matches have seen just four goals scored
(two 1-0 wins, two 1-0 defeats, two 0-0 draws). It's the fewest goals scored
across a six-game spell by any team in the competition since Wigan in
January/February 2009 (also four), with Wigan's game after this run a 2-1
defeat to Chelsea.
Chelsea have conceded at least once in each of their last five Premier
League games - it's their longest run without a clean sheet under Thomas
Tuchel, and their longest overall run in the competition since
January/February 2020 (6 under Frank Lampard).
Reece James has provided five Premier League assists for Chelsea this season
(13 games), one more than he had in his previous two campaigns combined (4
in 56 appearances).
Mason Mount has scored in each of his last four Premier League games for
Chelsea - the last player to score in five in a row in the competition for
the Blues was Frank Lampard between April/August 2010.
Chelsea's Mason Mount has both scored and assisted a goal in his last two
Premier League away games. Only two players have done so in three
consecutive away appearances in the competition - Son Heung-min in January
2019 and Bruno Fernandes in November 2020.
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