Chelsea 3-1 Wolves: Maresca´s side return to top four after ending winless streak

Chelsea ended their five-match winless streak in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke were all on target as the Blues climbed back into the top four.

Tosin broke the deadlock midway through the first half with his first Premier League goal, but a Robert Sanchez error from a corner gifted Matt Doherty an equaliser shortly before the break.

However, two goals in the space of five second-half minutes sealed a much-needed triumph for the Blues.

Cucurella marked his 100th Premier League appearance by tucking home Madueke’s deflected cross on the hour mark. The latter then nodded in on the line after the returning Trevoh Chalobah headed Cole Palmer’s corner towards goal.

Enzo Maresca’s side leapfrog Newcastle United and Manchester City to fourth place, while Wolves remain 17th and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

4 – Only Arijanet Muric (5) has made more errors leading to goals among players in the Premier League this season than Robert Sánchez (4). Prone. pic.twitter.com/9i2sHaTwIY

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 20, 2025

Data Debrief: Wolves’ set-piece frailties exposed again

Chelsea were given a scare when Doherty equalised in first-half stoppage time. It came courtesy of Sanchez’s fourth error leading to a goal in the Premier League this season, with only Ipswich Town’s Arijanet Muric making more.

However, the Blues were eventually too strong for Wolves, who have lost their first three league games of a calendar year for the first time since 1982 (first six), when they were relegated from the top flight.

Pereira’s side have now conceded 19 goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) and 11 from corners – both the most in the Premier League this season. Those tallies were extended after Madueke’s fourth goal against them this term.

Diego Costa (five against Swansea in 2014-15), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (five against Tottenham in 2001-02) and Gianluca Vialli (five against Barnsley in 1997-98) are the only Blues players to net more times against a single opponent in a Premier League campaign.