Expert Chelsea v Wolves predictions and free football tips: Draw could be value

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wednesday's Premier League clash between Chelsea and Wolves.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 6pm Wednesday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 16-5 bet365
Add this selection to your betslip with bet365

Team news

Chelsea
Ngolo Kante is a doubt. Olivier Giroud is fit.

Wolves
New signing Willian Jose won't be involved. Raul Jimenez, Daniel Podence and Jonny Castro remain sidelined.

Match preview

Many Chelsea fans will be smarting after the unceremonious axing of their hero and hoping that a new manager can help them to bounce back against Wolves - but it could be a risky bet.

These are two out-of-form outfits going toe-to-toe in Chelsea's first game since Frank Lampard's departure on Monday morning, and making a case for either is a struggle.

Thomas Tuchel is a negative Covid-19 test away from standing on the touchlines for his first Premier League assignment, although his involvement in the preparation for the game has presumably been limited regardless of where he is sitting when the players take to the field.

And while the German doesn't know many of the players, won't know his best team and might not even be sure what day of the week it is given the whirlwind of recent events, the one thing he will be acutely aware of is that Chelsea aren't in good nick.

The same, of course, is true of Wolves, who have been pretty much in freefall since Raul Jimenez's injury, although interestingly the only win in the nine games the Mexican frontman has missed was the 2-1 triumph over Chelsea before Christmas.

Events over the last couple of days have heightened interest in this mid-table tussle which looks like it could be tight. Chelsea have failed to win five of their nine home games so certainly don't catch the eye at odds-on. And Wolves have won just one of their last nine. The draw is just about preferred in a game jam-packed with unknowns.

The biggest unknown is how Chelsea's players will react. Had they, as some suggest, simply lost faith in Lampard's abilities? Or are they simply what they are, a group of lads capable of stringing together wins against lesser clubs - seven of their eight victories have come against bottom-nine outfits - but held against better sides?

They already look in need of a break so perhaps it's no surprise their form has tailed off after a bright start.

Wolves have found a temporary solution to the Jimenez problem – Willian Jose will be at the club when his work permit is sorted – but until then surely Nuno has to go without a number nine as Fabio Silva simply isn’t ready.

Their last half-decent effort was a 1-0 loss at Manchester United when Santo basically went with widemen Pedro Neto and Adama Traore up front and let them roam. They packed the midfield and were hard to play through and something similar would do them just fine at the Bridge.

They have had an extra 48 hours after floundering at Chorley to get ready for this, and that could be helpful.

Key stat

Wolves' only league win in their last nine games was against Chelsea.

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