Chelsea host a Wolverhampton side one rung below on the Premier League ladder after the midweek fixtures. The Blues were beaten at Liverpool on Wednesday while Wanderers, in action 24 hours later, lost 4-3 at home to Manchester United.

If it seems like only recently Sunday’s teams met at Molineux, that’s because this round of matches is the reverse of those over the festive period. The rare Christmas Eve rendezvous ended 2-1 to the Old Gold side, though Christopher Nkunku scored his first for the Blues.

With 16 games remaining, Mauricio Pochettino will hope home form (and the weight of history) reactivates the chase for a European place. The Londoners are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in the past 10 games across all competitions (winning eight) and have only conceded once in the last four.

Wolves average a point per game from away results this season. Gary O’Neil’s side have lost four of the last six top-flight games on the road and have managed just two clean sheets in 27 attempts. They have not won at the Bridge in 45 years and Chelsea’s next goal against them will be the 200th on all fronts.

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Nkunku’s quick feet and sharp finish were rare joys in midweek, though slick second-half combinations plus good performances from Carney Chukwuemeka, Malo Gusto and Djordje Petrovic were also positives at Anfield.

In the reverse fixtures against Wolves on Christmas Eve, the Londoners regularly robbed the ball from Wanderers (who managed just 65 per cent passing accuracy) high upfield to create openings, and the Blues had more shots than the hosts despite losing. Substitute Nkunku scored our consolation there and again on Wednesday – his second in four league outings.

As the high tide of absentees continues to recede, eight-goal striker Nicolas Jackson could be back to lead the line after international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, allowing Cole Palmer to return to a wide or deeper role than recent games.

Malo Gusto will hope to start on Sunday at right-back after returning from injury at Liverpool. Central defender Trevoh Chalobah is also nearing match-readiness, while on Wednesday midfielder Cesare Casadei became the club’s 800th first-team debutant.

Goal contributions in all competitions 2023/24

Opposition scout – Wolves

Until Thursday, Wolves’ recent home form had been almost as good as Chelsea’s but, like the Blues, results on the road have failed to match up. They have not yet won away to a current top-half team. Wanderers had kept consecutive clean sheets and were unbeaten in four league outings before Man United’s late winner.

O’Neil’s counter-attacking team top the table for successful dribbles and fast breaks, attacking with numbers. Keeper Jose Sa is way out in front for claiming high balls in his area and ranks third for initiating attacks with a throw-out.

Wanderers form an aggressive box of four in midfield and their directness after turnovers, especially through the middle, overloads backpedaling defences. The 4-1 win across the city at Brentford over Christmas was, though, their sole away success since October.

Despite having the second-best record in the league on aerial challenges, the Blues could not handle the worked set-plays at Molineux, the hosts creating six attempts on goal from free-kicks and corners. Avoiding needless fouls around the box is a must. Swashbuckling Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha and middleman Mario Lemina’s power caused problems too.

Wideman Pablo Sarabia was fit for the bench against United, alongside defensive midfielder Joao Gomes, who has served his suspension. Leading marksman Hwang Hee-Chan returned from the Asian Cup but has a hip injury, while midfield anchor Boubacar Traore’s Mali are still on the trophy trail at the Africa Cup of Nations. Transfer window departures included Sasa Kalajdzic, Jonny Otto and Fabio Silva.

Chelsea vs Wolves: The history

Wolverhampton are enduring one of the oldest winless streaks at Stamford Bridge of any club – 12 in all competitions. Wanderers have not tasted success at Chelsea’s home on any front since a 2-1 win in the old Division One on 24 March 1979. Only Middlesbrough (March 1975), Fulham (March 1964) and Hull (never, since 1905) have to look further back for a league win.

Back in 1979, towards the end of our worst-ever top-flight season, second-half goals from John Richards and Billy Rafferty overturned Tommy Langley’s opener for the Londoners.

The Black Country side have failed to score on three of their past four matches on the Fulham Road, yet secured two draws. Last season’s 3-0 win was the largest margin of victory throughout our league campaign. The goals came from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic either side of the break, then Armando Broja at the death – his first for the club.

Penalty milestone a whistle away

Chelsea were surprisingly denied two penalty appeals at Anfield but have scored from the spot in five of the past seven Premier League games at Stamford Bridge. The next one awarded and converted home or away in the top flight will be our 150th.

The Blues’ first-ever in the newly constituted league came on 12 April 1993, during a 4-2 Easter Monday derby win at home to Wimbledon. Dennis Wise, taking the armband in place of Andy Townsend under David Webb, broke the deadlock from 12 yards against his former club.