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Chelsea’s history vs. Wolves: Gary Cahill, Victor Moses and… Henry Kissinger?

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 31: A general view of the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on December 31, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 31: A general view of the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on December 31, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) /
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Henry Kissinger was at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea came back to draw Wolves 3-3 in 1976. If that’s not the most random fact you’ll learn all day, your life is more interesting than ours.

Wolverhampton Wanderers knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Saturday. On Sunday, Chelsea advanced in the FA Cup by easily trouncing Brentford. Yesterday, Wolves’ fate was sealed as they learned they would host the Premier League leaders in the next round. And today, obviously, Blue faces Red in a massive top of the table clash.

Nice bit of symmetry there.

Chelsea will play Wolves the weekend of 18-19 February. This will be the 105th meeting in 111 years between the sides, but only the fourth time in the FA Cup. The previous encounters came in 1911, 1928 and 1994.

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The last time the two clubs played Chelsea won 6-0 in the third round of the 2012/13 League Cup. It remains the only League Cup match between the two sides. Gary Cahill opened the scoring with a leaping header over his defender at the back post off a corner kick. Victor Moses drew a penalty that Oriol Romeu converted from the spot. Moses himself then capped the night for the Blues. Cahill and Moses are the only scorers from that game still at Stamford Bridge, although neither are likely to feature in the upcoming tie.

Wolverhampton still hold claim to handing Chelsea their worst-ever defeat: 8-1 away in September 1953. Wolves went on to win the First Division title that season. Chelsea, on the other hand, finished eighth.

The Blues responded well, though. The following season they defeated Wolves 4-3 and 1-0 en route to their first ever league championship.

Wolves will welcome the Blues to Molineaux with all the confidence befitting a team of giant-killers. Wolves knocked out Stoke in the third round of the FA Cup and will be looking to make it three-for-three against Premier League teams.

Antonio Conte has far more depth in his squad than Liverpool, though. Jurgen Klopp paid the price for making so many changes to his usual lineup. Conte, on the other hand, made the same number of changes but still crushed a similarly situated Championship club.

Next: Antonio Conte guarding against complacency as Chelsea close in on the title

Chelsea’s trip to Molineaux comes between Premier League fixtures against Burnley and Swansea City. Antonio Conte could have the league title all but sewn up by the time he leads his club to Wolverhampton. With Liverpool and Arsenal in the rear-view mirror, the FA Cup tie could directly lead to more Premier League minutes for his youngsters.

Oh, and you can catch Henry Kissinger watching the Blues here.

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