Premier League: When English Footballing Institutions Collide

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Chelsea

This is a fixture of real pedigree.

They may not have met many times in Premier League history – on only 12 occasions in fact – but as far as English football history is concerned, they are institutions in their own right with their own glory spells written in the stars by their beloved followers.

Wolves’ main period was during the Stan Cullis era of the 1950s, a glorious time for the club, and while there have been other success stories – not to mention a financial crisis, a marked decline and then recovery in the 1980s and 90s – their last two years under manager Nuno Espirito Santo have been their most consistent at the top table for decades.

Chelsea have also had spells of upward mobility and upheaval, although there is no doubt their most glorious period has emerged following the 2003 takeover of the club by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich – an arrival that changed not just the club’s history but also the landscape of English football.

That is, arguably, still continuing, although it’s matches like these Chelsea will have to overcome if another top-flight title is to make its way to west London anytime soon.

Talking Points

After creating Premier League highlights galore in their first two years back in the top flight, Wolves have struggled to rediscover their mojo so far in 2020-21.

Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered 0-1 defeat against Aston Villa in Premier League — Nuno Espirito Santo with Wolverhampton Wanderers players after their match vs Aston Villa

Yet it’s easy to forget this is a club which was only promoted to the top flight in 2018.

The honest likelihood is they have failed to really recover from their sterling efforts of last season – efforts which only ended in August with their 59^th match of the campaign and a narrow Europa League quarter-final defeat.

Such a heavy campaign would have taken its toll on even the biggest of squads but a limited depth – not to mention a lack of any type of pre-season (their new season started just a month later) – meant Wolves have not really had a break and it shows.

They have had some special moments, not least a success at Arsenal last month, but, on the whole, they have been a shadow of their former selves so far this term.

That misery continued on Saturday when they conceded a stoppage-time penalty as Aston Villa snatched victory in the West Midlands derby.

With Joao Moutinho suspended for this following a second yellow card in that game, and attack spearhead Raul Jimenez out with a fractured skull, Wolves will certainly not be at full strength as they welcome Chelsea and Frank Lampard.

The west Londoners have some bouncing back of their own to do after a 1-0 weekend reverse at Everton brought to an end a 17-match unbeaten run.

After needing time to integrate their summer signings, which topped £200 million, Chelsea have shown their credentials at home and in Europe in recent months, topping a group which included last season’s Europa League winners Sevilla and are still sitting fourth in the Premier League, despite their defeat at Goodison.

On the team news front, Jimenez, Moutinho and full-back Jonny are the main absentees for the hosts, while Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi are both missing for the visitors with hamstring injuries.

American talent Christian Pulisic was a surprise admission from the Chelsea squad that lost to Everton (also hamstring) but may be available for selection.

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Serie A

History

Overall, Wolves have beaten Chelsea on 39 occasions, while Chelsea have tasted success in 43 meetings. A total of 27 matches have ended all square.

Their very first meeting was in December 1906 when Chelsea won 2-1 at Molyneux.

Wolves were well beaten in both meetings last season.

Chelsea ran out 5-2 winners in this corresponding fixture as Tammy Abraham netted a hat-trick, added to goals from Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount as a young Chelsea side turned on the style.

They won the re-match 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the league season (in July) when Olivier Giroud and Mount were the goal-getters.

Wolves won this fixture two seasons ago as Jimenez and Diogo Jota scored to cancel out Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s opener.