Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Wolverhampton’s battle for survival began with a disastrous second half against Chelsea in the second round, ending in a (2:6) defeat. Is there a chance of at least a draw now, like in the first half of that match?
Chelsea
With the current Chelsea side, anything is possible. In the last 30 days, they have gone from a confident second place, trailing Liverpool by two points, to dropping to fifth, being overtaken by Newcastle United as well. The reason for this drop in form is five matches without a win (three draws and two losses). It could have been three defeats if not for captain Reece James, who just returned from injury and scored a crucial goal against Brentford in injury time from a free-kick. This series also includes an away defeat to modest Ipswich Town (0:2), a gift no one else had given to Ipswich. Even when Chelsea did win, they did so unconvincingly, with recent victories only being by a single-goal margin.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton have managed two wins, a draw, and two losses in their last five rounds—not too shabby for underdogs, a label they are keen to shed. When considering away matches, the situation is even brighter, with two wins, a draw, and a loss. In their most recent fixture, Wolverhampton lost to Newcastle United (0:3). Their lineup includes the unstoppable Alexander Isak, who has scored in eight consecutive Premier League games. He seems prepared to tear through any opposition.
Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Prediction
Chelsea are clearly experiencing a crisis at present. Cole Palmer, who contributed three of the four goals during this unfortunate streak, cannot carry the team single-handedly. The rest are not stepping up. While a win for the hosts is certainly possible, it's hard to imagine them achieving anything more than a narrow victory.
