Na one of the four all-Premier League clashes go happen this Wednesday night for Molineux as Wolverhampton Wanderers go welcome Chelsea for the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Wolves don win this same trophy two times before — last one na for 1980 — while Chelsea don lift am five times, their last success na for 2015.
Match Preview
Wolves don struggle badly this season for Premier League. After nine matches, dem don only manage collect two points — that one don keep dem rock bottom for the league table.
Vitor Pereira side never still see one league win this season, and dem dey come this fixture after 3-2 loss to Burnley. But for EFL Cup matter, na different story — Wolves don win two games already, knocking out West Ham and Everton to reach this stage.
The club get small history with this competition — dem win am for 1974 and again for 1980. So far this season, the EFL Cup don serve as small escape from their league wahala.
Another reason for hope be say dem don win three of their last five meetings with Chelsea across all competitions. But Chelsea get the upper hand for the most recent meetings — dem hammer Wolves 6-2 for Molineux last August (2024), and also beat dem 3-1 for Stamford Bridge back in January 2025.
In fact, the last time both teams jam for this same League Cup competition (September 2012), Chelsea wipe Wolves 6-0. So Maresca men go dey confident say history dey their side. Still, the Blues dey come into this game with some frustration after dem lose 2-1 to Sunderland for weekend Premier League fixture. That defeat end their four-game winning streak across all competitions.
Currently, Chelsea dey sit 9th for Premier League table with 14 points from nine matches. Dem don win one EFL Cup match this season — 2-1 against Lincoln City — and this Wolves game go come just before their big London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Chelsea don lift this League Cup five times, last one for 2014/15 when dem beat Spurs 2-0 for Wembley.
Wolverhampton Wanderers EFL Cup form: WW
Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions): LWDDLL
Chelsea EFL Cup form: W
Chelsea form (all competitions): LWWWWL
Team News
For Wolves, Leon Chiwome still dey injury list with knee problem, but apart from am, Pereira fit boast say him squad dey in good shape. Coach go likely name strong lineup as a win go really help dem confidence.
Hwang Hee-chan and Joao Gomes fit return to the XI, while Jorgen Strand Larsen go still start up front — the 25-year-old na their main attacking threat and he don recover from him small injury scare.
Chelsea on their own still get plenty absentees: Mykhaylo Mudryk dey suspended, while Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer and Benoit Badiashile all dey sidelined with different muscle and leg issues.
But Malo Gusto don return from suspension and go likely start. Expect Wesley Fofana, Andrey Santos, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens, and Tyrique George to all enter the lineup too. Garnacho wey score him first Chelsea goal against Sunderland fit retain him spot for attack again.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible lineup:
Johnstone; Hoever, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno; Munetsi, Gomes, Andre; Arias, Larsen, Hwang
Chelsea possible lineup:
Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato; Lavia, Santos; Gittens, Estevao, Garnacho; George
Prediction
Make no mistake, Wolves get enough spirit to cause Chelsea real wahala especially with home crowd behind dem. Dem go press high and play physical football as usual. But with the kind squad depth and fresh legs Maresca fit rotate into the team, Chelsea still get the upper hand. Expect am to be close but the Blues go eventually find their way through.
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Chelsea
Live Update Disclaimer
This preview page go dey updated as new information drop — from confirmed lineups to last-minute injury gist. The page dey LIVE, so make you check back from time to time before kickoff to catch every update as e happen.
