Chelsea kick off their second stint under Frank Lampard’s charge as the Blues take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
A defeat to Aston Villa over the last weekend was followed by the sacking of Graham Potter, just a day later on Sunday evening, and in came former manager Frank Lampard five days after to take over as the caretaker boss until the end of the season.
The 44-year-old Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge over two years after being handed the axe as head coach in January 2021 would come with Chelsea sitting outside the top half in the Premier League standings with the defeat to Villa leaving them 11th.
As the Chelsea board commits to an extensive search for a longer-term option to replace Lampard at the end of the season, the returning manager, who is also the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and a Blues hero, has been tasked with helping Chelsea climb the league table towards the European qualification places.
Wolves have endured a shaky spell of form in recent weeks since edging out a slender 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning of March.
They have picked up just one point from their last nine available and remain embroiled in a relegation battle at the foot of the table ahead of welcoming Chelsea to the Molineux which has been a happy hunting ground for the home side this season against teams above them in the table including Spurs, Liverpool and West Ham United.
Only one point separates Wolves from 18th-placed Bournemouth and with nine games left to play in the league, including five outings against top-half teams, the task is cut out for the under-pressure Julen Lopetegui and his players.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date – Saturday 11 March 2023
Time – 2 PM GMT
Venue –King Power Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea only have Thiago Silva and Armando Broja in the treatment room ahead of the upcoming contest against Wolves with Frank Lampard set to have the rest of his squad to call upon.
First-team outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be missing out on the squad with a back problem while the skipper Cesar Azpilicueta is also expected to be deemed an injury concern.
Lampard has often relied upon Mason Mount during his first stint as the Chelsea manager and the latter could be in line for a recall to the first XI in Lampard’s return to the Chelsea dugout.
KEY BATTLE
Raul Jimenez vs Mason Mount
Wolves frontman Raul Jimenez could prove to be a difference-maker for his side who will be out to seek a win and ease the pressure at the foot of the league table.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are likely to have playmaker Mason Mount back in the XI and despite the England international’s struggles this season, he has been a star turn for the Blues in the past and would be keen to put out a solid display to win over his critics.
MATCH PREDICTION
Chelsea have struggled for consistency in form this season but the relegation-threatened Wolves are not expected to pose a tough challenge to the visitors who are the favourites to win the contest.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
