Wolves vs Chelsea
Molinuex Stadium, West Midlands
Tuesday, 15-12-2020 @9pm
Ref: Scot Attwell
Wolves have lost nine Premier League games against Chelsea, their worst tally versus any side other than Liverpool (10). The 32 goals Wolves have conceded in this fixture is their worst return against any top-flight team. Chelsea have only failed to score in one of the last 17 top-flight meetings, a 1-0 loss at Molineux in January 2011.
Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho serves a one-match suspension after receiving two late bookings in the home defeat against Aston Villa last weekend. There is still no timescale on the return of Raul Jimenez, who is recovering from a fractured skull, while Jonny is a long-term absentee.
Christian Pulisic is in Chelsea’s match-day squad after he missed the loss at Everton through injury. Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi remain out.
Wolves could lose three successive Premier League games for the first time since November 2018. They have won just once in five league fixtures, drawing one and losing three. They have won six of their eight home midweek games since returning to the Premier League in 2018, including a 2-1 victory against Chelsea in December 2018. Wolves have lost four of the five Premier League games when Raul Jimenez hasn’t started, scoring 0.4 goals per game compared to 1.3 with him in the starting 11.
Chelsea’s defeat against Everton last weekend ended an unbeaten run of 17 matches in all competitions. It was their first away league loss of the season. Chelsea could lose back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time in a year. The two defeats in December 2019 started with a loss at Goodison Park. However, the Blues have lost just one of their last 20 Premier League games played on a Tuesday (W12, D7), a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool in May 2012. Tammy Abraham has scored six goals in four league appearances against Wolves, including a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 5-2 win in this fixture last season. Timo Werner has failed to score in seven games, following a run of seven goals in seven matches.
Man City vs West Bromwich Albion
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Tuesday, 15-12-2020 @11pm
Ref: Peter Bankes
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is being assessed after he missed the Manchester derby through illness. Eric Garcia remains absent and is set to miss the Christmas programme with a muscle injury, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is also still sidelined.
West Brom will again be without the services of defender Kyle Bartley due to a calf injury. Sam Field is another injured absentee, with Matheus Pereira also missing as he continues to serve a three-match ban.
Manchester City have won the last 13 meetings in league and cup by an aggregate score of 37-9, a club-record run against another top-flight side. City last failed to beat West Brom in a goalless Premier League draw on Boxing Day in 2011. The Baggies have not beaten City in the league since a 2-1 home triumph in December 2008. West Brom have never won a Premier League game at the Etihad Stadium, losing on nine their of 11 visits.
Manchester City are unbeaten in six matches in all competitions, winning four times and drawing twice. City have won just four times in 10 league matches, with each win coming against sides currently in the bottom six. Pep Guardiola’s side are without defeat in four home league games, keeping clean sheets in all three wins (D1). They have won 23 of their past 26 midweek Premier League fixtures, losing the other three. City are unbeaten in 31 home league games against sides in the bottom three, scoring 100 goals and conceding 18. They are without defeat in 39 home league matches against promoted sides, winning 35 and drawing four. Guardiola’s men have scored 17 goals after 11 games, exactly half the total they had at this stage of last season. Kevin De Bruyne has scored five goals and assisted seven in his past eight league starts versus promoted opposition.
West Brom’s tally of six points is their lowest after 12 fixtures of a Premier League campaign. Albion have lost five of their six away league fixtures this season, with their sole point coming at Brighton. The Baggies have lost 10 of their past 13 Premier League away games, scoring just seven goals in the process. They have never won a Premier League game on a Tuesday night, losing 15 and drawing 12 of 27 previous contests. West Brom have conceded a league-high 25 goals. They have let in 17 second-half goals, five more than any Premier League rival. Baggies boss Slaven Bilic has lost three successive matches against City, doing so by an aggregate score of 1-12.
The other upcoming Premier League games
Wednesday, 16-12-2020
-Arsenal vs Southampton @9pm
-Leeds United vs Newcastle United @9pm
-Leicester City vs Everton @9pm
-Fulham vs Brighton and Hove Albion @11pm
-West Ham United vs Crystal Palace @11pm
-Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur @11pm
Thursday, 17-12-2020
-Aston Villa vs Burnley @9pm
-Sheffield United vs Man United @11pm
