Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Predictions

• Chelsea have conceded in nine of their 10 home games this season
• Wolves have lost nine of their 10 clashes with the top eight, including heavy defeats in their last two in the league
• The Blues have won the xG battle in all but one of their previous five games

Chelsea in need of three points

Reece James scored a late equaliser to spare Chelsea’s blushes against Bournemouth in midweek, but the Blues are now winless in five Premier League games. That winless streak has taken them from title contenders to fifth in the table, while they risk losing more ground in the Champions League race if things don’t improve.

Monday’s clash with Wolves offers the Blues a chance to end their slide. Enzo Maresca laid down a marker when he went to Molineux for his second Premier League game as a manager. Chelsea won 6-2 at Wolves, with Noni Madueke making a name for himself among the opposition fans.

Now Maresca needs his players to step up again as he attempts to solve their defensive issues.

Vitor Pereira can’t match the league’s elite

Wolves have shown signs of improvement under new boss Vitor Pereira, but he hasn’t been able to bridge the gap against the league’s top sides. The visitors have met the top eight on 10 occasions so far this season, suffering nine defeats. Their sole point came in a fortunate draw at Nottingham Forest in the third week of the season.

Pereira has lost 3-0 to Forest and Newcastle United in his last two Premier League games, which suggests this visit to Stamford Bridge will be a struggle. However, the Blues’ issues point to the visitors getting on the scoresheet.

Fofana’s absence is costing Blues

Chelsea’s turn in form has come with Wesley Fofana out of the side. With Benoit Badiashile also injured, the Blues have recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace. The academy product played a key role in their late-season surge last term and he has the physical attributes to get the Blues pushed further up the pitch, something they’ve lacked in Fofana’s absence.

While Chelsea are in poor form, they’ve won the xG battle in four of their last five Premier League games. Defensive concerns have surrounded the Blues all campaign, as they’ve managed just one clean sheet at home in the league this term. They’ve shipped 13 goals across their 10 outings at Stamford Bridge, so back a Wolves’ side who have averaged 1.55 goals per game on their travels to get a goal.

However, the hosts are backed to shake their poor run against a side who have been exposed time and time again by the league’s top teams. The hosts’ turn in fortunes should boost Nicolas Jackson, who scored within two minutes at Molineux in the reverse clash. His form has been off of late, but the striker recorded 1.1 xG in the Bournemouth clash and he can start another hot streak by scoring against one of the league’s worst defences.