Raheem Sterling has match to forget as Chelsea's problems pile up with Wolves defeat
Chelsea’s misery at a Christmas Eve defeat at Wolves was compounded by bookings for Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer who will now miss their next league game, at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
A fourth consecutive away league defeat saw Chelsea add to their position as the worst-behaved team in the division, with five yellows taking their total to 56.
Sterling was cautioned for simulation, after contact from Joao Gomes, while Palmer was booked for kicking the ball away, yellows that took them on to five each and activated a one-match ban. It marked an end to a frustrating afternoon for Sterling who had looked Chelsea’s best chance of a goal, until the late introduction of Christopher Nkunku for his first taste of Premier League football, but which illustrated old shortcomings.
Sterling missed one glorious first half chance, when played clean through on goal, and saw a good opening well blocked by Craig Dawson in the second half.
Sterling at least maintained his run of being involved in seven goals in as many League games after Nkunku headed his cross in injury time and manager Mauricio Pochettino felt the England international did not deserve his late booking.
“Yes for me it was harsh but, of course, it’s a frustration,” said Pochettino. “They are young and sometimes they get frustrated but now we are without two more players.”
Sterling’s career record of 120 Premier League goals places him in the top 25 of the division’s all-time charts although his tendency to need numerous chances to convert had long been obvious, even in his years of great success with Manchester City.
It is one that has been reflected by his entire team this season, with Chelsea owning the worst record of converting what the statisticians define as “big chances.” Chelsea have failed to covert 36 of them this season, with a strike rate of scoring 21 of 57, to which Sterling added two more misses at Molineux.
“I think, we were talking a lot from the beginning of the season, this is a group of players that are a very young team,” said Pochettino. “And yes, when you play for the first time in the Premier League, they need to get used to it and make the adaptation. It is about confidence, of course. Quality, of course. It’s about too many things. It’s difficult because always we are talking about creating chances, providing the team with strategies to put players in the best condition to score. Yes, that is happening at the moment.
“That’s why we’re so frustrated. When you’re a young team, you become more frustrated. You feel the pressure more when you are playing for Chelsea, the result is all about winning. It is not easy to manage. That’s why it’s all about the team keeping believing and helping the players to improve by being more clinical in front of goal. The only thing we can do is practise more and more and more.
“That is going to arrive with time, because they have the capability, they have the qualities, that is why they are here. It ids about being more calm, more relaxed.”
But Sterling, at 29 and in his 13th top flight season, does not come into the category of youth.
Rather, his first, and most glaring miss, was the result of a poor decision as he bore down on the Wolves goal, with a chance he had created himself out of nothing, and shot straight at Jose Sa, rather than squaring the ball to one of two unmarked team-mates.
How have Chelsea not scored here?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/cxICSt7y6X
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 24, 2023
But for all his brilliant build-up play, Sterling lacks the lethal finishing touch that Chelsea so badly need at present and then, of course, are the accusations that have long plagued him about his willingness to go to ground.
A first instance, when he threw himself at the outstretched leg of Toti, went unpunished by referee David Coote but after he later felt contact from Gomes, Sterling understandably tumbled and was cautioned, even though he did not appear to even be appealing for a penalty.
Perhaps, Coote had been mindful of the earlier incident and allowed it to cloud his decision to hand out a yellow.
But, as he witnessed poor performances from Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja, which can only have added to Pochettino’s attacking concerns, at least Nkunku offered a glimmer of hope.
Fit again after badly injuring his knee on the pre-season tour of the United States, the French international, 26, not only scored the late consolation but had earlier almost equalised when he saw an excellent effort cleared off the Wolves line by Toti.
Pochettino repeated his refrain that Chelsea supporters should not see him as the answer to all their team’s problems. “It is good he scored but he needs time for everyone to see his best,” said the manager. “We are in the middle of the competition and the competition always punishes you when you are not good enough.”
Given the way the first half of the competition has gone for Chelsea, they can only hope Nkunku does not need too much time to adapt - indeed, Wednesday would be a good time for him to start replaying his £52 million fee.
Wolves 2 Chelsea 1, as it happened
03:37 PM GMT
Congratulations to Wolves
Good win that, and they deserved it. Chelsea have got some real problems. Thanks for reading, we will see you on Boxing Day.
03:24 PM GMT
Pochettino talks to Sky
“We are very disappointed. We deserve much more but this competition punishes you if you are not clinical. We had the ball and we had chances and in the first half we didn’t allow a shot on target.
“We are a young team, not just in age but (in not having played together much). It is about quality. We should score.”
Tbf, seems a really strange career shift to go from Espanyol, Southampton and Spurs with tight budgets - but clear strategy and good youth - to two absolute basketcases.
— Daniel Zeqiri (@ZeqiriDan) December 24, 2023
03:12 PM GMT
Lemina and Doherty talk to Sky
Lemina: “Amazing to win in front of these fans. We deserved this win. I would like to pass on a message to my dad, he is in hospital for two months and I wanted to be there with him but I have to do my work. Keep pushing dad, we are all together. This MotM award is for my dad.”
Doherty: “I have had that knack in my career of being in the right place at the right time and I slotteed it away. Important goal because they then scored. Our record against top six is good. The atmosphere, we feel comfortable.”
03:00 PM GMT
Full time: Wolves 2 Chelsea 1
That’s it! Wolves have hung on for a stirring victory.
02:59 PM GMT
90+ 9 mins: Wolves 2 Chelsea 1
Bueno is booked for a foul.
Ref is having a big afternoon - now he’s booked the Chelsea sub keeper, Bettinelli. For mouthing off I guess.
02:57 PM GMT
90+ 7 mins: Wolves 2 Chelsea 1
Sterling is booked for diving and he is going to miss Chelsea’s next match. Bit harsh that, Gomes barged into Raheem.
02:55 PM GMT
GOAL! Wolves 2 Chelsea 1 (Nkunku 90+6)
Well, maybe there is some hope! Nkunku with an excellent header to throw Chelsea an improbable lifeline.
02:54 PM GMT
90+ 4 mins: Wolves 2 Chelsea 0
Any way back for Chelsea?
02:52 PM GMT
GOAL! Wolves 2 Chelsea 0 (Doherty 90+3)
Chelsea with the latest in a long rap sheet of defensive errors.
Badiashile fails to cut a ball out, Matt Doherty is the man in the right place at the right time, and he taps it in.
Bueno the player with the cross.
02:48 PM GMT
90 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Cross comes in and goes straight through Sa’s fingers.
11 minutes will be added on.
02:47 PM GMT
88 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
86' | #WOL 1-0 #CHE
Doherty and Hugo Bueno introduced. #WOLCHE pic.twitter.com/FmuLUEHlo6— Wolves (@Wolves) December 24, 2023
02:46 PM GMT
87 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Wolves have their tenth corner. Cleared.
02:45 PM GMT
85 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Sterling wastes a good opportunity when he floats a cross a long way out.
02:40 PM GMT
81 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Doyle drives forward and has a dibble. Comfortable save for the Chelsea keeper.
02:36 PM GMT
78 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea make a triple change.
Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Ian Maatsen on.
Colwill, Gusto and Jackson the men to make way.
02:36 PM GMT
77 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea with the ball, probing away.
02:33 PM GMT
74 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea switch off and Cunha fires into the side netting.
02:32 PM GMT
70 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea on the attack but the frustrating Mudryk plays it bak to Gallagher with a terrible hospital pass. Lunging for it, Gallagher fouls.
02:29 PM GMT
69 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Santiago Bueno replaces Craig Dawson, who did himself a mischief there.
Not entirely sure what's happened but the stretcher bearers were called for, they didn't really respond and Dawson is now being carried off by 4 members of Wolves backroom staff. Santi Bueno on. #WWFC https://t.co/ajbJg6ItiR
— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) December 24, 2023
02:23 PM GMT
64 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea are on the charge. Dawson throws his body in front of a Sterling shot. Wolves survive. But I think Dawson crashed into Sa in so doing and has hurt hismelf.
02:22 PM GMT
62 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Sa again with some eccentric goalkeeping - he comes out, changes his mind. It’s Fred Karno time in there, and the ball is stabbed goalwards by Nkunku... cleared off the line!
02:19 PM GMT
60 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Toti and Sterling tangle at the edge of the Wolves area. Var having a look.
Ref’s getting busy. He’s booked Gusto for kicking the ball away. Jackson also booked a couple of minutes later, not sure why. Perhaps the same offence?
And now he’s booked Cunha for dissent
02:18 PM GMT
58 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea changes: Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku on. Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja off.
02:14 PM GMT
55 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Palmer kicks the ball away and is booked. He will miss the game against Palace.
02:13 PM GMT
54 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Jackson dives to try and win a penalty.
02:11 PM GMT
53 mins: Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Disasi with a disastrous bit of defending, losing the ball and playing his colleagues into trouble. Hwang reckons that Colwill has dragged him down in the area. Var says no.
02:10 PM GMT
GOAL! Wolves 1 Chelsea 0 (Lemina 51)
Well they’d been knocking on the door with all these corners. Mario Lemina gets into a good position, he has the upper body strength to occupy the space and he nods the ball in. He didn’t have to jump. Lesley Ugochukwu the man who was supposed to be picking him up.
02:08 PM GMT
51 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Enjoyable open stuff so far in this half. Wolves getting a series of corners.
02:06 PM GMT
48 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Now it is Chelsea’s turn to dither at the back. Gomes shoots and it deflects behind off the hand of Lesley Ugochukwu. No handball. Corner. Repelled. Another. Ball is slung in by Gomes and Toti meets it with a beefy header. Well stopped.
02:03 PM GMT
46 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea kick off. No changes that I can see.
02:02 PM GMT
The players are coming out
Nothing to separate us so far.#CFC | #WolChe pic.twitter.com/LEKb8QHFSQ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 24, 2023
01:48 PM GMT
Half time: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Reasonable entertainment but both sides lack quality in front of goal*. Wolves have shot themselves in the foot a couple of times at the back. On one occasion, Raheem Sterling was gifted the ball and should have scored. He’s had a good game.
* Chelsea have had eight shots but only hit the target twice. Wolves with five shots but not one of them on target.
How do I explain that Chelsea didn’t score from here 🤯 pic.twitter.com/cyGHT2c9Te
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 24, 2023
The answer, I suspect, is that Sterling probably thought his colleagues Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson and were offside and then got caught in two minds about dinking it over or going around the keeper. Well Jackson was offside, Palmer wasn’t.
01:47 PM GMT
45+ mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea have a deep freekick as the half draws to a close. Jose Sa comes for it and drops it! Regains it. Now Cunha gives the ball away and Palmer shoots. Wolves definitely have an error in them at the back. But they survive.
01:45 PM GMT
44 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
That’s a good chance! Long ball over the top, Hwang races onto it and shoots but he’s put that well over.
01:43 PM GMT
42 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Wolves putting some pressure on. Decent move down the right, Sarabia does well to control, spin and shoot.
01:41 PM GMT
39 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Ait Nouri crosses and Disasi cuts that out for another corner.
01:40 PM GMT
38 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Wolves having a good little spell. Hwang making his presence felt. They’ve won a corner.
Disasi and Dawson wrestling.
01:39 PM GMT
37 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Good wheels from the Chelsea keeper as he races out to deny Semedo.
01:33 PM GMT
31 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Wolves overelaborate at the back, confusion between Sa and Gomes. Sterling picks the Wolves man’s pocket, and Sa has to produce a really good save. Gallagher works the keeper again with a follow up.
01:32 PM GMT
30 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Sarabia hits the wall with the freekick and the hosts have a corner.
01:31 PM GMT
29 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Wolves coming into this a bit more. Ait Nouri with a powerful run cutting inside from the left, Gallagher fouls him outside the area.
01:29 PM GMT
27 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Raheem Sterling takes it himself but that’s well over the bar.
01:28 PM GMT
26 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Sterling surges forward down the inside left, he’s been the best player on the pitch and he’s chopped down on the edge of the area by Lamina. Right on the edge of the area.
01:25 PM GMT
24 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Here are Cunha and Nouri though combining down the left. Oh, offside.
01:25 PM GMT
23 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Hwang Hee-Chan and Santos Matheus Cunha have barely had a kick between them.
01:21 PM GMT
20 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Sterling with excellent work and a ball into the box... Nicolas Jackson brilliantly positioned but make’s a complete pig’s ear of controlling the ball. He looks a bit of a wally to me, that lad.
Gallagher has a go and it’s blocked.
01:19 PM GMT
17 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea are really in charge of this one so far.
Semedo gets the ball but plenty of Raheem Sterling’s shin too as he follows through.
Var Var Var is having a gander. No action is taken.
01:17 PM GMT
14 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Rayan Ait-Nouri needs some treatment on a foot. A pause in the game. O’Neil issuing a few instructions in the meantime.
01:14 PM GMT
12 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Another Chelsea corner. They take this one short.
Sterling plays the ball in but that’s for Jose Sa Frances Ha.
01:13 PM GMT
11 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Semedo and Sterling are having a good battle. Raheem crosses and wins a corner.
01:12 PM GMT
10 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Sterling turns, slips it through to Gusto down the right, and he drills a cross in. Broja airkicks.
Nobody can apply a finish yet but the warning signs are there for the Wolves back line.
01:11 PM GMT
9 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Wolves have excellent home form this season but Chelsea look like they are up for it today an are the side asking most of the questions so far.
01:08 PM GMT
6 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Lemina with an important tackle on Sterling, after Raheem had cleverly cut inside.
01:07 PM GMT
5 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Good battling but not a massive amount going on so far.
01:02 PM GMT
2 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
Wolves are the side attacking early on. Chelsea looking calm as they tidy up at the back.
01:01 PM GMT
1 mins: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
The hosts, in their gold, kick off. Chelsea are in dark navy strip that looks almost black on the TV.
12:59 PM GMT
Hi Ho Wolverhampton
sung with gusto.
Dear old Alan Smith, once of this parish, is doing the co-commentary.
12:59 PM GMT
The teams again
Wolverhampton: Jose Sa, Kilman, Dawson, Gomes, Nelson Semedo, Lemina, Joao Gomes, Ait Nouri, Hwang, Sarabia, Matheus Cunha. Subs: Doherty, Santiago Bueno, Hugo Bueno, Kalajdzic, Doyle, Bentley, Chirewa, Barnett, Hasketh.
Chelsea: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Ugochukwu, Gallagher, Sterling, Palmer, Jackson, Broja. Subs: Badiashile, Mudryk, Madueke, Bettinelli, Nkunku, Maatsen, Lavia, Bergstrom, Matos.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
12:56 PM GMT
Players are in the tunnel
The goalies exchange a hug.
12:56 PM GMT
Weather
it’s mild there, 57 degrees.
Decent show from the Chelsea fans, many of whom are wearing blue Santa hats. Not sure I envy their travel back down South.
Bit of Led Zep playing on the PA.
12:53 PM GMT
Telegraph Fantasy Football
Fantasy football, real fun. Come join.
12:52 PM GMT
Kick off is coming up
Who do you fancy?
12:44 PM GMT
Poch to Sky
“We have the possibility to play with Nico and Broja. It is about trying to find the best solution and the balance.”
12:43 PM GMT
O'Neil to Sky
I am getting to know the players, what works with them. It’s been a good week’s work, the lads are in a good space physically and we will need to be with three games in six days.
The game has come a bit too quickly for Pedro but he should be okay for Brentford
12:42 PM GMT
Jose Sa
looking cheerful there in the warm up. Jose Sa, Frances Ha. Frances Ha, Jose Sa.
12:37 PM GMT
Kelly Cates
on hosting duties for Sky. Great broadcaster. She’s not above a bit of early Christmas present etc material and rightly so.
12:08 PM GMT
Team analysis
TEAM NEWS
Sa back from injury.
Ait-Nouri returns from start.
Sarabia keeps his place.
No Fabio, Bellegarde, Traore among subs.
Youngsters Barnett, Chirewa, Hesketh make the bench.
Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Lemina, Gomes, Sarabia, Hwang, Cunha. #WWFC— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) December 24, 2023
12:00 PM GMT
Wolves vs Chelsea lineups
Wolverhampton: Jose Sa, Kilman, Dawson, Gomes, Nelson Semedo, Lemina, Joao Gomes, Ait Nouri, Hwang, Sarabia, Matheus Cunha. Subs: Doherty, Santiago Bueno, Hugo Bueno, Kalajdzic, Doyle, Bentley, Chirewa, Barnett, Hasketh.
Chelsea: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Ugochukwu, Gallagher, Sterling, Palmer, Jackson, Broja. Subs: Badiashile, Mudryk, Madueke, Bettinelli, Nkunku, Maatsen, Lavia, Bergstrom, Matos.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
✌️ Two changes from #WHUWOL
➡️ Sa and Ait-Nouri into the XI
How we line-up to face @ChelseaFC.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/OkM6MEyHx2— Wolves (@Wolves) December 24, 2023
and the visitors
The Chelsea XI is in! 👊@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #WolChe pic.twitter.com/t7270fqjfv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 24, 2023
12:00 PM GMT
Prog rocks
The Christmas cover.
❄️📙 pic.twitter.com/cob2adpKdj— Wolves (@Wolves) December 24, 2023
11:58 AM GMT
Line-ups
should be with us any second so stay tuned for the Wolves vs Chelsea team news.
11:50 AM GMT
Molineux awaits
🐺🏟️ pic.twitter.com/6kcT2jydTy
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 24, 2023
11:46 AM GMT
Bet early bet often
Having a bet on today’s match? First take a look at these free bets and betting offers.
10:22 AM GMT
Christmas Eve football incoming!
Welcome to our live blog of Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Chelsea in the Premier League. The kick off is at 1pm this Christmas Eve. With no darts or racing on today, live sporting attention will be focusing on Molineux and we hope to be able to bring you an exciting match.
The hosts are in 14th place with 19 points and they had a really poor result last time out, getting beaten 3-0 by David Moyes’s West Ham. They’ve had one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five matches and look nailed on for mid-table obscurity this season.
Manager Gary O’Neil says that he’s expecting a tough game this afternoon.
“[Chelsea have] got really good quality. They look like a side who are starting to understand what the manager wants from them,” he said.
“Good with the ball, got good attacking talent so even if they’re not at their free-flowing best they’ve got players who can produce good moments, one-v-ones.
“So it’ll need to be a complete performance from us, which we’ve managed to produce a couple of times at home already against big sides but it will need to be again.
“I know the lads are looking forward to it, as am I. I know there were mixed feelings from supporters around there being a football match on Christmas Eve but I’m sure when we’re in the stadium if we can start the performance in the right way I’m sure the atmosphere will be fantastic as it has been.
“Looking forward to it, we’ll try and make it as tough an afternoon as possible for Chelsea.”
This is the first time that there has been a top-flight fixture on December 24 since 1995, when Leeds United beat Manchester United 3-1 at Elland Road. Not sure we can quite expect that level of intensity today but it’s an interesting assignment for both sides.
There are signs of things coming together for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea but results remain mixed. Chelsea have won two and lost three of their five most recent games and to be honest it is difficult to predict what will turn up. We will know the teams selected by Pochettino and O’Neil at 12 noon and kick off is then at 1pm.