Wolves are set to travel to London on Monday night to face Chelsea in a crucial Premier League clash.
The Old Gold head into the match in poor form, having suffered consecutive 3-0 defeats in their last two league outings.
They were beaten by Newcastle United in their most recent game, and the week before, Nottingham Forest handed them an identical thumping.
Currently sitting precariously close to the relegation zone with just 16 points from 21 games, Wolves are separated from 18th-placed Ipswich Town only by goals scored.
The pressure is mounting on Vitor Pereira and his squad, who now face the daunting task of earning a result at Stamford Bridge against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Chris Sutton Predicts Another Wolves Defeat
Chelsea, despite their own struggles, are widely tipped to add to Wolves’ misery. BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes the Londoners will come out on top and extend Wolves’ losing streak.
Giving his prediction, Sutton wrote:
“Chelsea are not in great form but they are going to click again at some point and, if they do, they are going to wipe the floor with Wolves.
“Vitor Pereira had that initial bounce as Wolves manager but they have found it difficult in their past two league games, losing 3-0 to Forest and Newcastle, and I don’t see things getting much better for them at Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea should win comfortably, while Wolves still have a lot of work to do to get out of relegation trouble. They are in the thick of that battle at the moment.”
Sutton predicts a 3-0 victory for Chelsea, which would mark Wolves’ third consecutive defeat by the same scoreline—a nightmare scenario for Pereira as he looks to steady the ship.
A Difficult Start to the Year for Wolves
Starting 2024 with back-to-back heavy defeats is far from what Pereira would have hoped for, and the fixtures ahead offer little respite. While taking on Chelsea away is no easy task, it might be the most winnable of Wolves’ upcoming games.
Over the next four weeks, Wolves will host league leaders Arsenal and fierce rivals Aston Villa before travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool. It’s a brutal run of fixtures, especially for a team teetering on the edge of the relegation zone.
One small consolation for Wolves is that all four of their next opponents are also competing in European competitions, potentially splitting their focus.
However, given Wolves’ underwhelming performances so far this season, expectations among fans remain low for any significant points haul before mid-February.
What’s at Stake?
For Wolves, the clash at Stamford Bridge represents an opportunity to stop the rot and rediscover some form before their schedule becomes even more challenging.
Pereira will need his players to deliver a resolute performance against Chelsea to avoid a third straight 3-0 defeat and keep the relegation battle from becoming even more dire.
For Chelsea, it’s a chance to bounce back from their own struggles and capitalize on Wolves’ vulnerabilities, making this an intriguing fixture for both sides.
