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Stamford Bridge
Saturday, November 21
Kick Off 3pm

It is back to Premier League action on the weekend, after the spate of International friendlies and World Cup Qualifiers. League leaders Chelsea pick up their campaign at home against Wolves. Currently sitting five points clear of Arsenal in second, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will look to press home their current form, but may have to do so without their main midfield…and that‘s just the start of it. Skipper John Terry injured himself during England training, and although the swelling of the ankle was a minor thing, he wasn’t risked for the match, and the Chelsea boss will be hoping that Terry’s insistence that he will be fit for the weekend, is true. It is fair to say, that if Chelsea were playing Manchester United, there would be an even greater urgency  to get him back into the side, and some of the other slightly injured guys would play through the pain.

International midfielders Deco, and Michael Ballack are also out of the line-up on Saturday which will mean a host of youngsters warming the bench for the game at Stamford Bridge. One other major factor for Chelsea, is that Didier Drogba is also missing up front after being karate kicked with studs in the chest by Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, which will leave a lot of the impetus on France’s Nicolas Anelka, who will be going to the World Cup thanks to the Hand of Henri. Salomon Kalou, the third striker at the club will also likely get in on the action, but having Lampard, Deco and Ballack missing from midfield, is ripping out the heart of the team, although they will all be expected back in action for the Champions League fixture in midweek (expect Lampard). They will still have the likes of Mikel, Essien, Joe Cole, Malouda to select from, and a certain Gael Kakuta, the subject of Chelsea’s pending transfer ban, will get his call up to the senior squad for the first time this season.

One good bit of injury news for the Blues, is that Ashley Cole should be fit to play. It will be a reshuffled look in midfield, as Chelsea go in search of their 1,000th home win in their history, but their staunch and meagre defence, the best in the league, will go a long way to helping them achieve just that. Saturday’s opposition, Wolves, are second from bottom in the Premier League, and have the unenviable task of being the next team to try and crack Chelsea’s 100% home record. The Blues have only conceded one goal at home, and that was on the opening day of the season, and they have won all six games in the league, netting 16 times. Recent games has seen them explode in terms of goal scoring, with Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard getting in on the action. In total they have scored 29 times compared to the twelve which Wolves have mustered. The midland side have identical home and away record, which equates to just one win in both columns.

Chelsea to win: 1/6 at Bet365
Draw: 6/1 at Totesport
Wolves to win: 22/1 at SkyBet
Over/Under 2.5 Goals = Over at 4/7 Bet365

Betting Advice. When Wolves were last up in the Premier League and had to face Chelsea, they conceded five goals on each occasion. They may be thankful that the regular Chelsea midfield will be missing, but Mick McCarthy’s men will know that they will still be in for a hard time. Going to Stamford Bridge and trying to knock over Chelsea when your top scorer is your centre half with three goals, highlights some big problems if the Midlands side are going to fight of relegation worries this season.