Chelsea have set a grim Premier League record for 2023 after their Christmas Eve 2-1 defeat away at Wolves, worsened by yellow card suspensions for two key forwards before hosting an unpredictable Crystal Palace on Wednesday…
Blues beaten yet again before Christmas
Second-half goals from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty’s stoppage-time second saw Wolves deliver their fans a welcome Christmas present at Molineux, inflicting an eyewatering eighth league defeat of the season – after 18 games – for Mauricio Pochettino’s mid-table Chelsea, as the pair sit alongside one another in the table.
Just like club sources continue insisting Erik ten Hag’s job security isn’t under threat at Manchester United given their poor form, the same applies to Pochettino as his slumping team persist in limping through what has quickly become a forgettable season contending with injuries, a loss of leadership and squad balance.
Raheem Sterling missed a big chance that quickly went viral on social media, assisted £52m summer signing Christopher Nkunku‘s first Chelsea goal and was harshly booked in stoppage-time for what referee David Coote deemed simulation.
Palmer was booked for dissent too, kicking the ball away in frustration that a Wolves free-kick was awarded not long after Lemina’s opener.
That, coupled with £32m man Nicolas Jackson’s struggles elsewhere in attack before being hooked after the hour mark, rather typified another frustrating away day for a side who’ve now lost each of their last four fixtures away from Stamford Bridge.
An unsettling trend on the road
Dec. 24: Lemina, Doherty see Wolves inflict more misery on Blues
Dec. 10: Doucoure, Dobbin down them as Everton win 2-0
Dec. 6: McTominay’s brace seals 2-1 defeat at Manchester United
Nov. 25: Former transfer target Gordon among goals in 4-1 loss to Newcastle
It also means no other side in England’s top-flight have suffered more defeats than Chelsea’s 19 this year, an unflattering statistic both Bournemouth and Fulham could match between now and New Year’s Day next Monday.
Only three teams across Europe’s top-five leagues have lost more regularly than them this year too: Almeria (24), Werder Bremen and Empoli (both 20).
For context, Almeria are rock bottom of La Liga and already ten points adrift of safety, Bundesliga side Bremen find themselves six points clear of the relegation places while Empoli are firmly in the Serie A drop zone with 12 points from their 17 games.
Moises Caicedo (illness) and Enzo Fernandez (hernia) could return for the visit of Crystal Palace come Wednesday, though Lesley Ugochukwu’s surprise start in a midfield duo alongside captain Conor Gallagher saw the France U21 international limp off with a recurrence of the muscle injury which kept him sidelined previously.
Palmer and Sterling have 17 Premier League goal contributions this term (11 goals, six assists) and for a side who’ve only mustered 29, it’ll be interesting to see how they fare without them – assuming Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk start in midweek.
Picture source: Getty Images, stats via Sports Mole
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