Frank Lampard will take over as Chelsea’s interim manager on Saturday when the Blues travel to Molineux to face Wolves in the Premier League.
Team Form
Wolves
After their 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in March, they’ve struggled to maintain their form, managing only one point from their last nine available points. This has put them in a precarious position, embroiled in a hotly-contested relegation battle.
Their recent back-to-back defeats against Newcastle United and Leeds United have only compounded their woes. However, they managed to secure a point in their most recent match against Nottingham Forest, where Daniel Podence scored seven minutes from time to cancel out Brennan Johnson’s opener.
Despite the draw, the decline in form is a cause for concern for manager Julen Lopetegui. With only one point separating Wolves from 18th-placed Bournemouth and just nine games remaining, including five fixtures against teams in the top half of the table, Lopetegui has his work cut out for him.
Wolves PL Form: L W L L D
Chelsea
Five days after parting company with Graham Potter, Chelsea announced on Thursday the appointment of Frank Lampard as caretaker manager until the end of the season.
Although Chelsea is still actively searching for a permanent manager, with Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann among the top contenders, Lampard has been tasked with leading the team to climb up the Premier League table and secure a spot in European qualification.
On top of this, the team also has an important Champions League tie against Real Madrid next week.
One of the main concerns for Chelsea this season has been their inability to score goals. They have only scored two or more goals in three out of their last 20 Premier League matches, and they have failed to score at all in 10 of those games.
Chelsea PL Form: W W D L D
Squad Report
Wolves
Unfortunately, their captain and star midfielder Ruben Neves received his 10th yellow card in their match against Nottingham Forest. As a result, he will now have to serve a two-match suspension.
In addition, defender Jonny Castro will also be unavailable for this weekend’s match as he serves the second of his three-match ban.
On the injury front, Sasa Kalajdzic, Chiquinho, and Hwang Hee-chan are still recovering from their respective injuries and will not be available for selection.
However, there is some good news: left-back Hugo Bueno has recovered from a minor hamstring problem and was able to feature as a substitute in their last match.
Chelsea
Unfortunately, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, and Armando Broja are all currently dealing with knee injuries, which will likely keep them out of the upcoming matches.
In addition, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a doubt for the team due to a back problem. His availability for the next match is uncertain, but the team will certainly hope for his quick recovery.
Wolves’ expected starting lineup:
Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno; Lemina, Neves, Nunes; A. Traore, Jimenez, Podence
Chelsea’s expected starting lineup:
Kepa; James, W. Fofana, Badiashile, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Mount; Madueke, Havertz, Sterling
Head to Head
These two clubs have faced each other 114 times over the years. Chelsea has secured 44 victories in those matches, while Wolves have won 40 times. The remaining 30 matches have ended in draws.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Saturday, April 08
Time: 03:00 pm, BST
Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Prediction
Wolves have shown their ability to perform in important matches at home this season, which will make for an exciting match against Chelsea.
However, the Blues will be hoping that the return of Frank Lampard as caretaker manager will provide a much-needed boost to the squad.
