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Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is still wary of Chelsea despite their recent drop-off in form.

Chelsea have gone five Premier League games without winning, having won the previous five before that.

"They are a team that maybe five games away were a team [tipped] to win the league," said Pereira. "Now, because they are not getting the results [things are perceived differently], they have the same players, the same manager, top players, a top manager.

"I'm not a coach that if I lose a game, I would change my mind. I’m a coach to create an identity, to increase the level, to increase the level to play in the same style, in the way to have intentions. We go to face Chelsea, trying to play our game.

"Of course, in the other side, we'll face a team with quality, with top players, and against top players, you cannot consider the spaces and the time to play in the way that they like."

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has called on his wingers to score more goals.

Cole Palmer, with 14, and Nicolas Jackson on nine are Chelsea's top Premier League scorers this season.

Noni Madueke has scored five - with three of them coming against Wolves - and nobody else has managed more than three.

"We have the third-best attack in the Premier League, so we score many goals, but the way the team is playing we can score more goals," said Maresca.

"It is not about just Nico. Probably in terms of wingers we can score more goals for the amount of times that we arrive and put our wingers in positions one-v-one in the box, like Pedro [Neto] and Jadon [Sancho]. Hopefully they can start soon to score goals.

"The important thing is that they arrive there in every game. In the last game against Bournemouth, Jadon and Noni arrived one-v-one inside the box many times.

"If we are clinical for sure it is better for the team, so if we can have our attacking players, our wingers, being more clinical it will be good."

Just 43% of Chelsea’s Premier League points this season have come in home games (16/37), the lowest share in the division.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Former Wolves winger Pedro Neto was catching up with fellow Portuguese-speaking Matheus Cunha and Joao Gomes.

Joao Felix was also among the four chatting but is the only one not starting today.

Image source, Nizaar Kinsella

Wolves

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira speaking to Sky Sports about the absence of Mario Lemina: "I will talk about Lemina at the end of the month. In that time I will know if he stays or goes. That will be the right time to talk.

"Now I need to speak about the team. I need to focus on myself and the team."

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

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Cole Palmer is the childhood Manchester United fan who grew up idolising Wayne Rooney and honed his playing skills in the cage next to the skate ramps in Wythenshawe's Hollyhedge Park.

As a Year 6 pupil, he confidently wrote "a footballer" in his book at Gatley Primary School, Cheadle, when asked to complete the sentence "One day I'll be...".

Think Palmer and you think of a player who plays with swagger and is box office to watch.

A down to earth Manchester lad tipped for a long and successful England career whose dad says of him: "He doesn't want to be famous. He doesn't want stardom. He just wants to be a footballer."

Think Palmer and your thoughts turn to those deadpan television interviews.

Someone who went viral on social media when he said "chippy chips" are part of his favourite post-match meal, and who regularly returns to Manchester to visit his parents Jermaine - Sterry's son - and Marie, and sister Hallie. An importance placed on family that began in St Kitts.

You can read the full article on the BBC Sport website

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is starting his first Premier League game since May 2023 for Leicester City against West Ham.

This is only his sixth Premier League appearance for Chelsea.

Mario Lemina has made a U-turn at Wolves and is available for selection until his future is resolved.

But... he's been left out today.

The midfielder asked to be left out of the squad for the midweek 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, amid his desire to leave Molineux.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab want to sign the 31-year-old and have asked to take him for free, something Wolves are not entertaining.

But Lemina apologised to Wolves boss Vitor Pereira on Friday morning.

Pereira said: "Last time I came to the press conference I thought he was in for the game, then he asked me to be out of the game because mentally he wasn't in condition.

"Today [Friday] he came to me, in the morning, he asked to apologise to me and apologise to the team. He said he is ready to do his best for the team until we have a solution and decision.

"This is the way he must behave. We are professional, the club pays the salaries which means I should come here with energy to help until the last day."

Wolves want £5m for Lemina, who joined from Southampton two years ago.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Dazzling Dave, Fan writer

Creating goalscoring opportunities in the Premier League is no small task, yet Wolves have consistently managed to do so. However, a glaring lack of clinical finishing in decisive moments is now dragging the team closer to relegation.

Surprisingly, Wolves rank among the league's top teams for shot conversion at 10.8%. When their attack clicks, Wolves display swift transitions and precision in front of goal, making them an imposing threat. Yet, this efficiency has faltered at critical moments.

If Wolves are to survive, they must rediscover their clinical edge while addressing their defensive frailties - conceding goals at key moments has added further pressure on the misfiring attack.

There have been glimpses of potential, and the talent to turn their fortunes around is evident. However, if Wolves continue wasting chances, it will cost them their Premier League status.

Read the full column

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says January has been "a disaster" because of ongoing speculation around his players.

Defender Renato Veiga was rumoured to be in discussions with Borussia Dortmund and there have been questions over the future of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall too.

Elsewhere, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei have all been told they can find new clubs this month.

"On the pitch, for sure I would like to win more games, but I'm OK," said Maresca. "Off the pitch it's a disaster because [there are] so many noises that I don't think help us, but I don't think they help any club.

"It's for every club [and] every manager. When there is any noise about some player, it's not easy, because even if you think the player can be focused on us, in the end they are human beings.

"So if there is any noise about some different clubs, probably [the player] is not focused 100%, so it doesn't help."

Since the start of last season, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer have combined for more Premier League goals than any other duo (12).

Only four pairs of players have combined for more Chelsea Premier League goals - Didier Drogba & Frank Lampard (36), Cesc Fabregas & Diego Costa (14), Didier Drogba & Nicolas Anelka (13) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink & Eidur Gudjohnsen (13).

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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 Nottingham 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's prediction: 3-0

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

West Ham are in advanced talks to reunite Chelsea analyst Kyle Macauley with Graham Potter.

A deal is expected to be completed this week as negotiations about an exit package move in the right direction, according to sources at both clubs.

Chelsea say goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts is key at the club and won't be re-joining Potter, having been brought to Stamford Bridge by the club's former manager.

Roberts serves as both a goalkeeper coach for Enzo Maresca and advises sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart on all goalkeeping transfers.

Chelsea and England forward Cole Palmer proudly owns his Saint Kitts roots.

DJ on the island of Saint Kitts, Leslie 'Sugar Bowl' Morton IV, tells BBC Sport what he means to the country.

Chelsea

Chelsea captain Reece James speaking to Sky Sports: "We try not to dwell on the period that we are in. We haven't won in a few games but these things happen. When you look across the Premier League at other teams they have had small spells where they have dropped off. We hope to put things right today."

On his late equaliser against Bournemouth: "Helping the team with a goal in a tough game, in a tough period, is always a great confidence boost."

On how his return can help the team: "I think I understand the game reasonably well. I always try to help the team as much as I can and when I play for this club I always give my best."

On his physical condition: "Consistency is key. Building game on game and not rushing. Hopefully I can put a string of performances together."

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The show will include live updates from Chelsea v Wolves.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Trevoh Chalobah is the unbreakable man at Chelsea.

The 25-year-old centre-back has gone from the so-called 'bomb squad' - a group of nearly a dozen players exiled out of Enzo Maresca's first team - to being described as "the best solution" to shore up Chelsea's defence following an an emergency recall from Crystal Palace.

Loan spells being cut short in January are not unusual, but typically it is Premier League clubs bringing back their promising youngsters after cutting their teeth in the English Football League.

"We have new injuries," Maresca said on Friday. "We were looking for a solution. We thought probably the best solution was to bring Trev back."

WhilePalace boss Oliver Glasner described the move as "a little bit surprising", MarescasaidChalobah was "happy" and added: "We know him very well. He can help us. He knows the house better than me.

"The reason why he left at the beginning of the season was financial fair play, these kinds of things. It was not only a technical decision.

"The reason why he is here is that we are sure he can help us now."

You can read the full article on the BBC Sport website.

Chelsea make five changes from their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last Tuesday.

Reece James makes his first Premier League start since 3 November at right-back, while Trevoh Chalobah starts alongside Tosin Adarabioyo at centre-back having been recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace.

There's also a first Premier League start for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall since his summer switch from Leicester, while Pedro Neto also comes in.

Josh Acheampong and Jadon Sancho drop to the bench but Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill miss out completely.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella, Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson.

Subs: Jorgensen, Disasi, Felix, Nkunku, Sancho, Gusto, George, Acheampong, Guiu.

Image source, BBC Sport

Wolves make three changes from their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Wednesday.

Captain Nelson Semedo returns at right wing-back and Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia also return.

Rodrigo Gomes, Goncalo Guedes and Hwang Hee-Chan drop to the bench.

Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Ait-Nouri, Andre, Joao Gomes, Cunha, Sarabia, Strand-Larsen.

Subs: Johnstone, Hwang, Dawson, R Gomes, Doyle, Forbs, Bellegarde, Guedes, Lima.

Image source, BBC Sport

Cole Palmer was a doubt tonight and he...... starts.

Full team news to follow.