Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Chelsea preview: The Blues seeks redemption against struggling Wolves in EFL Cup

Chelsea travel to the Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.

The West Londoners fell to a stoppage-time defeat to newly promoted side Sunderland on Saturday in the Premier League, ending their four-game winning streak across all competitions.

Enzo Maresca’s men defeated Lincoln City 2-1 last time out thanks to Facundo Buonanotte’s winner in the third round of the competition.

Wolves are also fresh off a league defeat to a newly promoted side, Burnley, as they lost 3-2.

Vitor Pereira’s side have been victorious twice in this competition, defeating both West Ham United and Everton to reach this round.

Match preview

Wolves have struggled this campaign, picking up only two points from their first nine matches of the 2025/26 season, leaving them bottom of the Premier League table.

Chelsea won 3-1 the last time these sides met in January 2025 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues also recorded a 6-0 victory in their last meeting in the League Cup back in September 2012.

Wolves have won the League Cup on two previous occasions, with their last success coming in 1980, while the Blues have lifted the trophy five times, last triumphing in the tournament in 2015.

Vitor Pereira’s side are yet to win in the league this term, and they will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 reverse to Burnley, but the strugglers have been victorious twice in the EFL Cup to reach this round, overcoming West Ham United and Everton.

Wolves have pedigree when it comes to success in the League Cup, winning the competition on two previous occasions, triumphing in 1974 and 1980.

The EFL Cup has proven to be a welcome respite for Wolves this term, and they have actually managed to win three of their last five matches against Chelsea in all competitions.

That said, the last two meetings between the two sides have brought wins for the London outfit, including a 6-2 scoreline in their last clash at Molineux in the Premier League in August 2024.

Team news

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Hwang Hee-chan and Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde were both passed fit for Wolves against Burnley, though Leon Chiwome is still out due to a knee injury.

Chelsea

Maresca has confirmed Liam Delap has returned to training and is available for the Blues’ trip to Molineux after he missed two months of action due to a hamstring injury.

Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, and Benoit Badiashile are all unavailable for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Malo Gusto returns from suspension after serving a one-match ban against Sunderland.

Predicted line-ups

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone, Hoever, S. Bueno, Krejci, H. Bueno, Munetsi, Gomes, Andre, Arias, Larsen, Hwang.

Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato, Lavia, Santos, Buonanotte Gittens, Estevao, George.