Chelsea Set to Overhaul Squad Against Wolves After Shocking Qarabag Defeat
Chelsea continues to struggle with inconsistency, as the positive energy from their impressive display against Tottenham Hotspur was diminished by a disappointing loss of two Champions League points in Baku.
The 2–2 stalemate with Qarabag leaves the Blues facing significant challenges if they want to secure a spot in the round of 16 without going through an additional qualifying round. Following the midweek setback, Enzo Maresca stood by his extensive squad rotation despite facing criticism from Wayne Rooney.
The Italian manager will certainly return to a lineup resembling the one that took the field in north London last Saturday, as their injury concerns persist ahead of the November international break.
Here's how Chelsea might set up against a Wolves team that remains winless in the Premier League and is currently without a manager following Vitor Pereira's dismissal.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Wolves (4-2-3-1)
GK: Robert Sánchez—The Spanish goalkeeper maintained his position during the week but couldn't stop Qarabag from establishing a 2–1 advantage. He'll continue in goal on Saturday.
RB: Malo Gusto—Gusto performed well against Spurs, and we'll probably see the energetic Frenchman reclaim his spot in Maresca's starting eleven.
CB: Wesley Fofana—Chelsea's defensive display was chaotic on Wednesday, leading to an expected double substitution at the center of Maresca's backline. While Fofana may struggle away from home, he's an exceptionally skilled defender when healthy and available.
CB: Trevoh Chalobah—Jorrel Hato's midweek catastrophe suggests he might be sidelined for some time, making Chalobah a certain choice to pair with Fofana in this position.
LB: Marc Cucurella—Cucurella was among the few outfield players who retained his spot from the Spurs victory. Maresca has complete confidence in one of the globe's finest left-backs.
CM: Reece James—The captain in excellent form has remained injury-free this campaign, and Chelsea have benefited greatly from both his fitness and his tactical repositioning.
CM: Moisés Caicedo—Roméo Lavia's early setback meant Caicedo featured for most of the midweek draw, having excelled for the Blues once again in their dominant win at Tottenham. The Ecuadorian has received significant acclaim for his displays this season.
AM: Enzo Fernández—With Cole Palmer still sidelined, Maresca has experimented with various approaches to compensate for his absence, achieving mixed results. Deploying Fernández as an attacking midfielder while limiting his defensive duties has shown considerable promise.
RW: Estêváo—The Brazilian simply must be included in the starting lineup. He represents the most talented winger in Chelsea's squad, and fans will be demanding his inclusion from kickoff this weekend.
ST: João Pedro—Pedro broke his scoring drought last weekend, with his first-half goal proving decisive due to Chelsea's subsequent wastefulness. He operated in a deeper role during the week but will likely spearhead the attack against Wolves.
LW: Alejandro Garnacho—With Pedro Neto's fitness uncertain, Garnacho might start for the third consecutive match. The former Manchester United winger found the net in Baku.
