Blues Prepare for Carabao Cup Clash with Wolves, Estevao Tipped for Start
Chelsea travel to Molineux tonight to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm GMT. Both teams are aiming to rebound from disappointing results over the weekend. Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home against Sunderland, while Wolves were edged out 3-2 by Burnley.
Manager Enzo Maresca is expected to rotate the squad, offering opportunities to fringe players and managing the fitness of key players. Liam Delap is in line to make his first appearance since recovering from a hamstring injury, though he is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes. According to reports, young Brazilian talent Estevao is set to start, providing an opportunity to showcase his skills.
"We need to protect the players because if we go with the same XI, we are going to struggle during the season," Maresca stated in his pre-match press conference, hinting at the changes. He specifically mentioned Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Joao Pedro as players who might be rested due to fitness concerns.
Malo Gusto is available again after serving a one-match suspension, while Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, and Dario Essugo remain sidelined due to injury. Mykhailo Mudryk is still unavailable.
Wolves, managed by Vitor Pereira, are in dire form, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League without a win in nine games. The Carabao Cup has provided some respite, with wins over West Ham and Everton. However, pressure is mounting on Pereira after a recent defeat to Burnley led to clashes with unhappy fans.
Wolves have a near full-strength squad, with Leon Chiwome as the only confirmed absentee due to a knee injury. Hwang Hee-chan and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde are expected to be available.
Predicted Lineups
While team selections are always subject to change, here are some predicted lineups:
- Wolves (Possible XI): Sa; Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci, H. Bueno; Andre, J. Gomes; Arias, Bellegarde, Hwang; Strand Larsen.
- Chelsea (Possible XI): Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato; Lavia, Santos; Gittens, Estevao, Garnacho; Guiu.
Where to Watch
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ in the UK, with coverage starting at 7:30pm. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the game via the Sky Go app.
Chelsea have been London's most successful team in the competition, winning five times. They reached the final in 2024. Wolves' best run in recent years was reaching the quarter-finals in 2022/23.
