Mauricio Pochettino will demand a reaction from his Chelsea stars after their humbling defeat by Liverpool. Chelsea face Wolves on Sunday hoping to overcome their 4-1 defeat and the gulf in class between them and the Premier League’s elite.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side now face a Wolves team who beat them 2-1 on Christmas Eve. The Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic played relatively well despite conceding four goals against Liverpool and could claim to be Chelsea’s new No.
1. The likely Blues team includes defenders Gusto, Disasi, Silva, and Chilwell.
Pochettino has the option to make several changes to his team, but he might limit them to three to provide continuity in key areas and ensure his best players play themselves back into form. Gallagher and Nkunku must start against Wolves, with either of Fernandez or Caicedo demoted to the bench.
Pochettino could take his biggest risk by putting Nicolas Jackson straight into his team after the striker returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. Chelsea have looked better with a recognised No.
9 rather than without, and Jackson’s inclusion would allow Cole Palmer to move back into his more familiar position on the right wing. Raheem Sterling also faces a fight for his place after another dismal showing against Liverpool.