Chelsea predictions at Wolves: Many goals, even if Antonio Rudiger returns

Leaving aside opening day, Chelsea are slightly better at scoring goals than preventing goals. Even with Antonio Rudiger’s expected return to the back-line, we can expect a high-scoring affair at Molineux.

The one down side to being in last season’s top six was being a feast for Wolves. Nuno Espirito Santos’ side took plenty of points from the teams above them, including five of six at Chelsea’s expense. The Blues have been a defensive sieve this season, even as Tammy Abraham leads an increasingly potent offence. This should be a fun, if nervy, day at Molineux.

Scott Brant: Wolves 2 – 2 Chelsea. A draw is as close as I will get to predicting a loss. Chelsea have injury woes still, even with a little relief this weekend. With no N’Golo Kante, the midfield will always be suspect, and with Antonio Rudiger possibly less than 100% game fit, this match will be a bit of a struggle.

Chelsea will go up early, and Wolves will tire them out and even it up by late in the second half. A Christian Pulisic goal would be nice to get him off and running, and a Michy Batshuayi sighting would be good to help raise his confidence.

Barrett Rouen: 2 – 3. I don’t know how this game is going to go. I hope Chelsea win.

Varun Dani: 1 – 2. The Molineux has become one of the most daunting venues in the Premier League, but it is the ideal test to see how far Chelsea have come. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are the best team to nullify tactically Frank Lampard’s gung-ho play. Lampard will have to tweak his game plan to get a result.

It’ll be a close contest, but Wolves have not been the best defensively recently. Pedro’s and Rudiger’s return, along with Kovavic being fit, can tilt the fixture in Chelsea’s favour. Christian Pulisic will be under the microscope due to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s imminent return.

Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 2 – 3. Unfortunately I can’t see Chelsea conceding fewer than two goals again. Rudiger may be back, but he’ll be left high and dry again by his defensive midfielders again.

Mason Mount will score a brace, and Tammy Abraham to score the third.

Wolves are a real threat when they play against top teams. They have not conceded as much as Chelsea, but they also have not scored as much as Chelsea, either. Seeing as Chelsea has not scored fewer than two goals in their last two matches, it’s fair to assume they’ll put away a few more chances and score more than two.

Kevin Peacock: 0 – 0. It’s difficult to imagine Chelsea not conceding in this game, but what the hell.

Following the international break, it’s a relief to get the Premier League back. Chelsea lost this fixture 2-1 last season and Wolves’ record against the top six teams is impressive. In Tammy Abraham, Frank Lampard has found a striker prepared to step up, but he still needs to prove his worth against the bigger teams. Chelsea need a 20-goal-a-season striker with Eden Hazard at Real Madrid now.

I’m going to predict this game to be less frenetic than those that have preceded this one, and since the not-so-clever money is on a high scoring match, I’m going with a scoreless draw.

Abhishek Pancholi: 2 – 3. Frank Lampard is still without, what would be, his first choice starting XI, five games into the season.

That means no N’Golo Kante to close down Ruben Neves early in the game, as he lets fly from outside the penalty area and leaves Kepa Arrizabalga rooted to the middle of his goal. Chelsea then go on to equalize through Ross Barkley before half-time. Wolves come back stronger after the break, take the lead and then concede a totally preventable goal to Tammy Abraham. With the scores level at 2-2, Abraham grabs his second as he pounces on a loose ball in the penalty area, poking home to win the game for Chelsea.

Rupert Meadows: 0 – 2. Frank Lampard sets his team up slightly differently in this one, looking to absorb pressure, frustrate Wolves’ attack and hit them on the counter. Tammy Abraham continues his impressive run in front of goal and Mason Mount gets on the scoresheet, as well, from range.

Marcos Alonso, drafted into the team to replace the injured Emerson, has a great game at left back against Adama Traore, and Chelsea keep their first clean sheet of the season with Rudiger back in the team.

Tan Yi Hao: 1 – 3. Wolves will undoubtedly be the biggest test of Lampard’s ability as a tactician thus far. Playing away from home against a team built predominantly on counter-attacking football, Lampard’s porous defence would be left incredibly vulnerable should he adopt a similar playing style as he did against Manchester United.

At this stage, Lampard could choose to either drop deeper and hit Wolves on the break (as he did against Liverpool in the Super Cup), or trust that the 2 weeks of international break has given him enough time to better integrate his footballing ideas into the team and persist with his high octane style of play.

Nate Hofmann: 3 – 2. With no N’golo Kante again, it’s hard to see this being anything other than another 90 minute Benny Hill clip. Marking Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves out of the match is the key to success, but it just doesn’t seem like Chelsea have the right personnel for the job.

You know who would be perfect for this match? Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’golo Kante. Without that solidity in midfield, it could be another brutal outing for the backline.

There’s still plenty of room for optimism in the attacking ranks though, especially with Willy Boly suspended for Wolves. This should be a good chance for Christian Pulisic to open his scoring account. In fact, I’ll put him down for a double while we’re at it. Unfortunately, I still don’t think it’ll be enough.