Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between
Chelsea and
Wolverhampton Wanderers. Just one place separates the clubs in the league table, but these sides have different ambitions for the rest of the campaign. The players are making their way out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge, so let's see who features in each starting lineup...
CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Palmieri; Kante,
Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Higuain, Hazard
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Rui Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny; Jota, Jimenez
KICKOFF: Chelsea get us underway in West London!
Chelsea spend the first three minutes focused on keeping possession, with Wolves happy to remain watchful in their own half.
Wolves finally see a bit of the ball in their own half, but a wild clearance from Patricio gifts Chelsea the ball back. It's been a quiet opening.
Chelsea are remaining patient for the most part, and Wolves are ready for the change of pace in the attack when it eventually comes.
Better from Chelsea who put together a few passes down the left, but Kovacic's final pass does not find the run of Pedro.
Wolves put something together in attack for the first time, but an attempted long ball from Coady goes straight out of play. It's extremely windy in the capital this afternoon.
Chelsea win a corner when a shot from Higuain is deflected behind, and the home side are unfortunate not to take the lead from close range with Pedro having got the flick on from the resulting set piece.
There are signs that Chelsea are trying to up the tempo, but Wolves have eight players in a deep position which is making it congested in and around the penalty area.
Chelsea have reverted back to their possession game in an attempt to break Wolves' concentration. We are still awaiting the first shot on goal.
A neat piece of skill from Dendoncker gets Wolves out of trouble down the right, but a pass out wide to the opposite flank goes straight out of play.
SHOT! Finally, a shot! Kante plays Higuain in behind the Wolves defence, but the angle is against the Argentine. However, the forward still gets a shot away with Patricio fumbling the ball wide of the near post.
Wolves have not really had any issues with what Chelsea are throwing at them, but there is also a sense that this spell of pressure could eventually pay off. Wolves are offering nothing going forward.
Chelsea put together a move down the right and it leads to a corner being won, but nothing comes the resulting set piece.
There have been a couple of occasions where Chelsea have almost overplayed it in the middle of the pitch, but Wolves have not been able to make anything of it.
We are going to have a lengthy stoppage in play because Coady and Saiss have banged heads when challenging Higuain inside the area. Both look fine to continue, but they need the time to recover.
Wolves are continuing to put up a big orange wall but when they do regain possession, their ball forward is rarely finding its intended target. It's one-way traffic in Chelsea's favour, but they are not exactly knocking the door down in the final third.
We reach the half-hour mark with just one shot being had by either side. It's not a boring game, but it has been uneventful.
More of the same from the Blues but when they do advance forward, Boly takes the opportunity to strike the ball against Kovacic in order to win a goal kick.
Most of the noise from the stands is coming from the travelling support, who are more than happy to see their side produce this kind of performance against a top-six side.
There really is very little to add right now. This game is being played at the pace of a friendly fixture a few weeks before the start of the season.
YELLOW CARD! We have our first booking and it goes to Doherty, who barges over Hazard on the left flank.
Chelsea are trying to move Wolves' back three out of position, but they are having no luck so far. The likes of Dendoncker and Neves are ready to cover if that does happen.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Jota has the ball in the net for Wolves, and it's a sensational finish with his left foot from 20 yards. However, the Portuguese handled the ball on the edge of the area.
Jota is ready to run in behind the Chelsea defence whenever Jimenez gets on the ball. It's one to keep an eye on. Wolves have improved over the past five minutes.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The half-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and we remain goalless. It has to be up there with one of the most uneventful first halves of the season, but credit should also go to Wolves for their disciplined defensive performance. Chelsea need to improve at the break.
Here's a quick look at both benches...
CHELSEA: Caballero, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Christensen
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Ruddy, Cavaleiro, Helder Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Traore, Kilman
The two teams are making their way back out. It doesn't look like any changes have been made by either boss.
KICKOFF: Wolves get us back underway.
It doesn't take long for the game to slot straight back into the pattern of the first half, although Wolves have had a couple of flurries forward since the restart.
Hazard bursts forward from the edge of the area, and the Belgian is brought down by a combination of Doherty and Saiss. Chelsea are given a free kick, but the decisive contact may have come just inside the box. Wolves may have got away with one there.
Luiz's free kick is deflected off target for a corner, and the resulting set piece is easily cleared at the near post.
It looks like Sarri has seen enough. Loftus-Cheek is already getting ready to come on. Chelsea continue to probe, but Wolves are dealing with crosses which are being sent into the box.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Raul Jimenez)
© Reuters
GOAL! Talk about a sucker punch! Jota collects the ball on the halfway line, and the Portuguese and Jimenez work the ball brilliantly between themselves before the latter is played through on goal. It looks like Jimenez takes too much time to get his shot away, but it's eventually deflected off Azpilicueta and into the corner.
SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea have made their change with Loftus-Cheek replacing Kovacic.
SHOT! Chelsea go straight on the attack, with Higuain turning on the edge of the area and forcing a fine save out of Patricio with a low shot.
SHOT! The home side are starting to liven up now. Pedro's long-range strike is tipped over the crossbar by Patricio. From the resulting corner, Higuain somehow doesn't convert from a couple of yards.
SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea make a second change and it's Hudson-Odoi who is being introduced for Pedro.
Wolves are sitting even deeper than they were in the first half - I didn't realise that was possible! Boly has just made a tremendous block from a Kante's shot.
In all fairness though, Wolves are still showing ambition going forward. Jimenez has been absolutely terrific all over the pitch.
YELLOW CARD! Saiss picks up a booking for raking his studs down Hazard's shin on the corner of the box. That was a naughty one.
We enter the final quarter with Chelsea continuing to search for an equaliser. Sarri will surely be considering making his final change. Wolves are yet to make one.
That third Chelsea substitution is on its way. It's still the same pattern with Chelsea penning Wolves back in their own defensive third.
SUBSTITUTION! Willian has been introduced for
Jorginho. There is sarcastic applause from the crowd...
Each of Wolves' 10 outfield players are within 50 yards of their own goal. Their discipline has been remarkable but they still have 16 minutes plus added-on time to see out.
YELLOW CARD! Another deserved booking for Wolves as Boly takes out Loftus-Cheek around 25 yards from goal.
The resulting free kick from Willian is deflected wide for a corner. It would have probably suited the left foot of Marcos Alonso, but he is nowhere to be seen this afternoon.
YELLOW CARD! Rudiger goes into the book for Chelsea for a cynical block on Jota on the halfway line.
YELLOW CARD! Jota is now cautioned for barging into Luiz. Wolves won't mind these stoppages in play.
SUBSTITUTION! Wolves make their first change with Gibbs-White replacing Jota.
Gibbs-White makes an immediate impression by threatening to burst through on goal from the halfway line, but Rudiger gets back to ease the youngster away from goal.
Jimenez is still getting on the ball on the halfway line and further forward. His use of it is currently set to be the decisive factor in this match.
SHOT! Chelsea up the pace in the final third, and Patricio is needed to punch a Willian curler wide of the target.
SUBSTITUTION! A tired Jimenez is replaced by Traore. Gibbs-White is playing down the middle.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
Loftus-Cheek gets a cross away inside the area, but the midfielder's pass is deflected wide of the far post for a corner.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Eden Hazard)
© Reuters
GOAL! Chelsea equalise and in some style too. Hazard picked up the ball on the edge of the area, and managed to curl a low strike from 25 yards through a pack of players and into the far corner.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have managed to earn themselves a share of the spoils against Wolves. The equaliser is harsh on the visitors, but Chelsea will feel that they deserved at least a point.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon. If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.