Wolves beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as the pressure continues to pile on Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea have now conceded eight goals in two defeats over the last five days as they’re 13 points off the top four.
Pochettino’s side took the lead through Cole Palmer’s tidy finish but Wolves came surging back as Matheus Cunha’s deflected effort and then an own goal from Axel Disasi put them ahead before the break. Cunha completed his hat trick with a fine finish and a penalty kick as Chelsea imploded and Thiago Silva’s late header was no more than a consolation
With the win Wolves move above Chelsea in the table, moving on to 32 points. Chelsea remain on 31 and into the bottom half.
Neto, Cunha rip sloppy Chelsea apart
Wolves set traps and Chelsea fell right into them. Time and time again. In the first half the tone was set as Chelsea took the lead against the run of play but Wolves put pressure on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez and the star midfield duo crumbled. Chelsea gave the ball away so often and the duo of Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto had a field day. Cunha bagged a hat trick and Neto ran riot with his powerful surging runs and clever passes and creativity in the final third. Chelsea have now conceded eight goals over their last two Premier League games and Pochettino is under pressure. Big time. Their top four dreams are basically that, a dream, and their season hinges on winning the League Cup final against red-hot Liverpool in a few weeks’ time at Wembley. Pochettino should get until the end of the season, at least, to turn things around but on this showing Chelsea are regressing at a rate which may make that tough. Is this Poch’s fault? Partly. But this is more down to the scattergun transfer policy of Chelsea’s hierarchy.
Chelsea vs Wolves player ratings
Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha ran the show and were so dangerous after they won the ball back and hit Chelsea on the counter. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer played well but it was slim pickings apart from that.
What’s next?
Chelsea head to Crystal Palace on Monday, Feb. 12. Wolves host Brentford on Saturday, Feb. 10.
How to watch Chelsea vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9am ET, Sunday (February 4)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Chelsea vs Wolves live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Chelsea 2-4 Wolves
Well, well, well. Pochettino has the expression of a man who knows he is in charge of a sinking ship. Chelsea are only heading in one direction right now. As for Wolves, they were fantastic and forced Chelsea into so many errors.
Thiago Silva heads home - Chelsea 2-4 Wolves (86th minute, Thiago Silva)
Thiago Silva flicks home a header. A consolation? Most likely.
Penalty to Wolves as Gusto takes down Cunha... and he completes his hat trick - Chelsea 1-4 Wolves (82nd minute, Matheus Cunha)
Cunha surges into the box and Malo Gusto clips him as he lunges to try and get a foot on the ball. Penalty given and even if Gusto got some of the ball he took Cunha out first. Gusto is subbed off and Cunha steps up and slows home a hat trick.
Jackson heads wide when he should score
Malo Gusto whips in a brilliant cross to the back post and substitute Nicolas Jackson has a free header from three yards but he puts it wide. That would have set up a wild final 20 minutes.
Another for Wolves as Cunha makes it three - Chelsea 1-3 Wolves (63rd minute, Cunha)
Well that could be that. Pedro Neto runs free, again, and cuts the ball back for Cunha to smash home. Chelsea can’t control Neto. He’s been sublime. So have Wolves. Chelsea are having a nightmare.
Great move and Sterling should score
Lively start to the second half from Chelsea and Palmer finds Chilwell and his cross finds Sterling but the winger slices his effort off target.
Wolves take the lead just before half time! (43rd minute, Disasi own goal)
That goal has stunned the Bridge. A lovely move down the right from Wolves sees Pedro Neto at the heart of it again and his cross finds Rayan Ait-Nouri and his shot deflects in off Axel Disasi. Gary O’Neil is delighted. Pochettino, not so much...
Chelsea continue to make so many mistakes
The home fans are nervous. Chelsea keep giving the ball away in midfield in dangerous areas. Wolves are setting traps and the Blues are playing right into them.
Wolves equalize right away after more sloppy play (22nd minute, Matheus Cunha)
Oh no, Moises Caicedo. He’s caught in possession as Wolves counter Chelsea again and this time they finish it off. The ball is played to Matheus Cunha and his shot deflects past Petrovic and in to make it 1-1.
Chelsea slice through Wolves - Chelsea 1-0 Wolves (19th minute, Cole Palmer)
Lovely play from Chelsea as Conor Gallagher starts the move and Moises Caicedo slots the ball through to Cole Palmer who finishes calmly. After all of that promising play from Wolves early on, it’s Chelsea who lead. Great quality from Chelsea.
Wolves have been dangerous early on
A few sloppy passes defensively from Chelsea and Wolves almost make the most of it twice but Petrovic gets down low to save from Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto. Not a great start from the hosts.
Chelsea lineup
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher; Sterling, Nkunku, Palmer
Wolves lineup
Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Neto, Cunha, Sarabia
Chelsea focus, team news
Christopher Nkunku is back from injury again and scored a tidy goal at Liverpool in midweek and he should start. If Chelsea can keep the Frenchman fit then he will solve their goalscoring issues. They have to improve defensively if they want to have a chance of qualifying for Europe as right now that seems like a very remote possibility.
OUT: Romeo Lavia (thigh), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Reece James (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Levi Colwill (undisclosed), Nicolas Jackson (international duty)
Wolves focus, team news
They’re so well organized and Matheus Cunha has stepped up in the absence of Hwang Hee-chan who is still away at the Asian Cup with South Korea. Tommy Doyle has also become hugely influential in central midfield as he stood in for Joao Gomes admirably. Wolves do have less rest than Chelsea ahead of this game so perhaps there will be some squad rotation from O’Neil.
OUT: Hee-chan Hwang (international duty), Boubacar Traore (international duty)
