Game Week 22 Predictions: Chelsea to beat Wolves

Chelsea hosts Wolves at Stamford Bridge. Can the Blues bounce back and secure a crucial win? Full match preview and prediction!

Chelsea must bring back their first leg energy where they white-washed Wolves 6-2 at the Molineux Stadium, will Wolves let them? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Chelsea vs. Wolves
Stamford Bridge Stadium
9:00 pm

Chelsea went from being a genuine title contender to fighting for a top-four finish. They must take advantage of Newcastle’s big slip when Wolves visit the Stamford Bridge Stadium.

Enzo Maresca must turn things around with this fixture.

Under their new manager, Vitor Pereira, Wolves' situation is not improving. Their most recent victory, a sensational 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the beginning of his Wolves career, came against Championship side Bristol in the FA Cup.

For Wolves, it’s more of the self-destruct button than anything else; they were punished for every mistake they made against Nottingham Forest before the FA Cup game last weekend and then fell flat against Newcastle by three odd goals; they must learn to defend better.

You look at the Wolves squad and wonder if they have enough to stay in the Premier League; they used to command top stars like Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, and Raul Jimenez, but not anymore. They are as weak as the three newly promoted sides; they need help.

Chelsea is not in the best shape right now, but does that give Wolves any chance of getting something from this game? You can’t pin Chelsea’s struggles to anything, as they always create chances. Do they have margins for errors?

For all of Manchester City’s wobbles, they’re now above Chelsea, and only a win would take them above the champions and back into the top four. Enzo Maresca knows this isn’t about the reverse psychology of saying they’re not in the title race; is he also not in the top four race?

Cole Palmer is a big doubt for this game; Chelsea is sweating on his fitness and may have to start him on the bench if his ankle problem doesn’t allow him to feature. Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia are the other key players battling different degrees of knocks. Will any of them feature?

Sasa Kalajdzic and Mattheus Cunha are available for selection, but Wolves will do without Toti Gomes and Yerson Mosquera, with the latter out for the rest of the season. Boubacar Traore's availability for selection is uncertain.

Chelsea recalled Trevoh Chalobah from Crystal Palace, but the game comes too soon for the defender. We expect Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo to start in central defence; Moises Caicedo might continue at right back, but Reece James should be fit to play.

Chelsea destroyed Wolves 6-2 with Cole Palmer's heroics in the reverse fixture; Pedro Neto is another player to watch in this as he faces his former side. João Félix and Noni Madueke have points to prove; this is their game to shine.

Verdict: A straight win for Chelsea.