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Chelsea top Wolves 3-1 at home to return to top four in Premier League

Sports Scene

Chelsea overcame a howler from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to beat relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at home on Monday, ending a five-game winless run to climb back into the Premier League's top four.

Enzo Maresca's team were just two points behind leaders Liverpool in mid-December, raising hopes of an unlikely title challenge, before losing their way. Now they are back on track to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, after second-half goals from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke spared Sanchez's blushes.

Chelsea players celebrate their first goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League match in London, United Kingdom, January 20, 2025. /CFP
Chelsea players celebrate their first goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League match in London, United Kingdom, January 20, 2025. /CFP

Chelsea players celebrate their first goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League match in London, United Kingdom, January 20, 2025. /CFP

The Spanish goalkeeper had dropped the ball moments before half-time, allowing Matt Doherty to cancel out Tosin Adarabioyo's opener.

Chelsea's top-scorer Cole Palmer, a doubt before the game, was declared fit to start as Maresca made five changes from last week's draw against Bournemouth, including bringing in centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace.

The home side dominated possession in the opening stages, and Palmer had a couple of early efforts, curling one wide and forcing Jose Sa into a diving save.

The home side were rewarded for their dominance midway through the first half, when Adarabioyo fired in his first Premier League goal for the club. The defender controlled the ball well after it was deflected into his path, following a shot from the edge of the box by Reece James.

A number of Chelsea players appeared to be in offside positions in a crowded penalty area, and a flag was raised initially, but the on-field decision was overturned after a lengthy VAR check.

Wolves, anaemic in attack for most of the first half, came back into the game as half-time approached, scoring with their first shot on target, thanks to the error by Sanchez.

The visitors earned a corner and the goalkeeper dropped the inswinging delivery from Matheus Cunha under intense pressure, when he could have punched clear, before Doherty poked home.

The home side started the second half brightly, and were back in front on the hour mark when Cucurella hooked home on the stretch, after Madueke's cross was flicked on by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Five minutes later, Chelsea had a cushion of two when Madueke scored his fourth goal of the season against Wolves, heading home Chalobah's goal-bound effort.

Sanchez palmed a Cunha shot behind with 10 minutes to go, but Chelsea were largely comfortable, despite the occasional minor scare, en route to leapfrogging Newcastle and Manchester City, whom they face next.

Former Leicester boss Maresca, in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, stubbornly insisted his team were not in the title race, even when they were flying high after five straight wins from late November.

Beginning with a 0-0 draw at Everton just before Christmas, they took just three points from five games, before returning to winning ways on Monday.

Wolves, who have conceded a league-high 51 goals, are outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone after three straight defeats. The downturn follows a bright start for new manager Vitor Pereira, who coached Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port for three seasons from 2018 to 2020, and now finds his task of avoiding the drop in England just a bit tougher.

Source(s): AFP
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