Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday hoping to turn around their form for the final five matches of the season. The Blues have recorded just two Premier League wins since returning from the international break and defeat to Everton last weekend has left Arsenal and Tottenham in close proximity.
Thomas Tuchel's side must do what they haven't under the German boss against Wolves on Saturday, and overcome Bruno Lage's men to earn three points. Tuchel's previous two meetings with Wanderers have ended goalless.
Chelsea must find a way to win without Jorginho and N'Golo Kante however, with the Italian unavailable after being substituted at half-time at Goodison Park, while his teammate is yet to recover from the injury he picked up against Manchester United. Callum Hudson-Odoi remains out despite being pictured in training this week, as does Ben Chilwell. Tuchel will have Andreas Christensen to choose from once again, however.
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The Blues have had a rare week of training without the disruption of another game to focus on and will hope they are fully prepared for the Premier League clash. Tuchel has already acknowledged that both Christian Pulisic and Romelu Lukaku have looked good in Chelsea training.
The 48-year-old said: "You will never see in this kind of level of competition happy faces from players that are not selected. Between Christian and me exists zero problems. He had a fantastic training week so far, he is in some matches made a huge impact from the bench."
On Lukaku, Tuchel offered: "He trained very well, and maybe he will start tomorrow. Let's see."
With greater time spent on the training pitch, preparation for the game will hold an even greater role than usual for Wolves, with the results being more informative than the usual frequent recovery sessions Chelsea may have grown used to with their hectic schedule. No doubt, there will be difficult decisions for Tuchel to make.
Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger may offer an easy start to the XI, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic will be the prime candidates in the absence of Jorginho and Kante. Chelsea's third central defender could prove a more difficult decision with Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen all candidates for the position.
James should start at wing-back however and be mirrored by Marcos Alonso. The duo will likely be supporting Mason Mount in Chelsea's attacking endeavours, with Tuchel's verdict on Pulisic perhaps offering the American a spot in the starting lineup. The German's tease that Lukaku could make the team also could be a solid indication the Belgian is under consideration but with Kai Havertz the favourite to lead the line against Liverpool next weekend, perhaps it is more likely Lukaku will start against Leeds next midweek.
Chelsea XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic, Havertz.
