Wolves v Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Matt Doherty winner punishes woeful Blues
Wolves 2-1 Chelsea: A Christmas Eve set-back for Mauricio Pochettino’s side as goals from Mario Lemina and Doherty earn the hosts a deserved win at Molineux
Wolves continued their stellar home form with a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League thanks to second-half strikes from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty.
Lemina headed in a Pablo Sarabia corner six minutes after halftime to give Wolves the lead before Doherty secured the win for Wolves with a second goal in added time.
Christopher Nkunku netted a consolation goal for Chelsea, his first for the London club since his close-season move, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not find an equaliser as they fell to their eighth league defeat of the season.
Follow the live action in the blog below
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
5 mins: So much space already! It’s an open start as Sterling leads the break and feeds Broja, who is in loads of room in the box. The striker cuts inside Lemina but Wolves recover before he can get his shot away. He needed to be quicker there, Broja.
It came after Wolves broke forward, with Chelsea’s midfield non-existent. Gomes couldn’t find the open man and Gallagher did well to track back and cut out the chance.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins: Sterling beats Samedo with ease before he is brushed to the ground. Jackson then gives away a similar foul and Chelsea are frustrated as this time the free-kick goes against them.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
1 min: Nicolas Jackson has started behind Armando Broja for Chelsea, with Raheem Sterling on the left and Cole Palmer floating inside from the right.
Wolves v Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
Here we go! Will Chelsea be driving home for Christmas with three points or can Gary O’Neil’s Wolves side give the Blues another set-back? We’re underway.
Wolves v Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
Kick-off is next! Wolves can go level on points with Chelsea with a win, while the Blues are guaranteed to spend Christmas 10th - it just depends if Pochettino’s side can cut the gap to ninth-placed Brighton, which currently stands at five points...
Wolves v Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
Mauricio Pochettino, speaking to Sky ahead of Wolves vs Chelsea: “We have the possibility to play Broja and Jackson together, it’s about trying to find the best solution and the best balance to win the game.”
Gary O’Neil expects Molineux to be “rocking” for this first Christmas Eve fixture since 1995.
Chelsea are winless in their last three away Premier League visits to Wolves, since a 5-2 win at Molineux in September 2019 - which featured a Tammy Abraham hat-trick.
In a good sign for Mauricio Pochettino, or maybe not, all four of their Premier League away wins at Wolves have been under different managers (Ranieri, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas and Lampard).
Wolves v Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
Wolves have scored in each of their last 15 Premier League home games, which is their longest scoring streak at Molineux in the top-flight since 1970.
Only Liverpool and Brighton have won at Molineux this season and Manchester City and Tottenham were both beaten by Gary O’Neil’s side.
Wolves vs Chelsea - team news!
The injuries continue to pile up for Chelsea and there is no Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez at Molineux, so Lesley Ugochukwu steps into midfield alongside Conor Gallagher. Romeo Lavia also returns to the Chelsea bench, where Christopher Nkunku remains despite making his debut as a substitute in midweek. Armando Broja leads the line, alongside Nicolas Jackson.
There are two changes to the Wolves team beaten at West Ham, with Jose Sa returning in goal and Rayan Ait-Nouri fit to start at left wing-back.
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