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CHELSEA host Wolves at Stamford Bridge for a huge Premier League clash TONIGHT.The Blues are winless in five Premier League matches and find themselves outside the top four ahead of kick-off and are facing an injury crisis. Enzo Maresca will have up to NINE Chelsea stars missing as they face a struggling Wolves side, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia among those who missed training on Friday.New Wolves boss Vitor Pereira had an enjoyable honeymoon period after Wanderers picked up seven points from his opening three points, but form has slumped in recent weeks following back-to-back 3-0 defeats in the Premier League.Kick off time: 8pm GMTTV channel: Sky Sports Main Event/Premier LeagueLive stream: NOW/Sky Sports appChelsea team: To follow…Wolves team: To follow…CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Wolves last 6 In contrast, Wolves have relatively picked up the pace since the appointment of their new head caoch Vítor Pereira. In their last six, they’ve been able to amass the same amount of wins (3) as they did in the 18 prior under predecessor Gary O’Neil. The stern start as tailed off in recent weeks with the three-game suspesion of Matheus Cunha proving noticable. Current form:Dec 22 – Leister City 0-3 WolvesDec 26 – Wolves 2-0 Mancheseter UnitedDec 29 – Tottenham 2-2 WolvesJan 6 – Wolves 0-3 Nottingham Foorrest Jan 11 – Bristol City 1-2 Wolves Jan 15 – Newcastle 3-0 WolvesCopy linkCopiedChelsea last 6This time last month Chelsea were being hailed as serious title contenders after five straight Premier League wins and nine in 10 matches in all competitions.While Chelsea were unbeatable at that stage, they haven’t been able to find a win since.The Blues now have just three points in their last five (very winnable) Premier League games and their only win since December 20 has been the 5-0 FA Cup win over League Two Morecambe.Current form: Dec 22 – Everton 0-0 ChelseaDec 26 – Chelsea 1-2 FulhamDec 30 – Ipswich 2-0 ChelseaJan 4 – Crystal Palace 1-1 ChelseaJan 11 – Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe (FA Cup)Jan 14 – Chelsea 2-2 BournemouthCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedGood sistersChelsea have reportedly agreed to sign Mamadou Sarr from sister club Strasbourg. The Blues have spent £12.5million on the centre-back, 19, but RMC state he will stay in Ligue 1 until the summer.Chelsea already have three players on loan at the club – goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, defender Caleb Wiley and midfielder Andrey Santos.Terms on a contract are already said to have been agreed, but not yet signed.Copy linkCopiedNoni anniversaryToday marks the two year anniversary of Noni Madueke signing for Chelsea. The winger joined from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 and has cemented himself as one of the better deals conducted during the chaotic wheeling and dealing period of the club.Madueke, 22, is Chelsea’s third most productive player in the league this season and will surely provide sufficient deputy for the absence of Cole Palmer this evening. Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedGittens enquiryAs for who could come in for the Blues, Jamie Gittens seems to be the main topic of interest. The Borussia Dortmund winger has been in electric form this season so far, with 11 goals and five assists, to the alert of top English clubs back home. Fabrizio Romano has reported that Chelsea made formal enquiry for the 20-year-old last week, while Liverpool also sent their scouts several times to follow his progress. One that will certainly rumble on. Credit: RexCopy linkCopiedItaly interest for Chillwell One player who will almost certainly not be featuring for Chelsea this weekend is outcast Ben Chilwell. The left-back hasn’t made a single Premier League or Europa League appearance under Enzo Maresca this season.And Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims Serie A giants Juventus have emerged as leading contenders.Credit: PACopy linkCopiedHow Chelsea could line up against WolvesChelsea are set to be forced into a makeshift starting XI when they take on Wolves tonight, with star man Cole Palmer set to miss out through injury.The Blues have been hit by a wave of injuries going into the crunch Premier League clash.With Chelsea missing up to nine players, SunSport have looked at the players available to Enzo Maresca. Here’s how the Blues could line up on Monday: Copy linkCopiedWolves worriesChelsea aren’t the only side with injury concerns, of course. Vitor Pereira could be without star man Matheus Cunha, who was ill at the end of last week.The Brazilian, who has 10 goals this season, was another player who missed training on Friday.Pereira said on Friday: “Today, he was out of the training because he got the flu. “He’s a bit sick, and I hope tomorrow he will be on the pitch. “Then, it’s a possibility to be in the next game.”Again, there has been no update since then from the club.Toti Gomes and Boubacar Traore are close to returning but aren’t expected to be fit for the Chelsea match.Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera and Enso Gonzalez aren’t due back for weeks.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedOthers missingIt’s not just Palmer that could miss the crunch clash against Wolves.Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are both longer-term injury concerns, as is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.Mykhailo Mudryk is out indefinitely due to his drug case.The more pressing concerns, alongside Palmer, are Levi Colewill, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.All three started the draw with Bournemouth but we also left out of training on Friday.Maresca said: “[Along with Palmer] Levi was also not in the session today, Enzo wasn’t in the session today, Romeo wasn’t in the session today. “So, we have three or four players who are doubts for Monday’s game because of the last game.”We’ll bring you any and all updates on those players as soon as we hear them.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopied’Cole is a doubt’Maresca revealed on Friday that Palmer had missed training and was unsure if he was going to train over the weekend.There has been no update from the club since.At the time, Maresca revealed: “Cole is a doubt.”The first half [of the last game] they kicked him so he didn’t train today.”We don’t know if he will train in the next two days.” Palmer has scored or assisted 20 of Chelsea’s 41 Premier League goals this season and leads his team-mates in both goals (14) and assists (6).”We rely on Cole because he’s a big player,” Maresca added. “We prefer to play with Cole but in case he has an injury or a problem, then we will find a solution.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedGood morning!Hello and welcome to our (very) early coverage of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Wolves.Kick-off is not until much later – 8pm – but with so much speculation surrounding Chelsea’s injury crisis, we thought we’d treat you all to an early start.Chelsea fans will know the trouble they are in by now, Enzo Maresca may have as many as NINE players missing. Cole Palmer is one of those and Blues supporters will be sweating on his fitness.The Chelsea star, as well as Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia, were all held out of training on Friday and are facing late fitness tests.Credit: PACopy linkCopied More

MANCHESTER UNITED have lost 3-1 to Brighton in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford.Yankuba Minteh opened the scoring for the Seagulls before Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot.Brighton went on to dominate in the second half with goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter.Rutter’s goal coming after a huge gift from Andre Onana in the United goal.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Full time – Man Utd 1-3 BrightonIt’s all over – and Brighton have once again come to Old Trafford and wiped the floor with Manchester United.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton90+8. One final flashpoint sees Yoro and March booked after a disagreement on the near touchline.These Manchester United players could do with just getting down the tunnel and filing this one in their ever-growing poor performances cabinet.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton90+6. After De Ligt fouls Rutter, Maguire talks his way into a booking.Frustrations really starting to spill over now among the United ranks.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton90+4. Fabian Hurzeler is happy for more Brighton players to get in on the act.The young German coach introduces Julio Enciso and Diego Gomez for Joao Pedro and Carlos Baleba.There are a lot of red seats on display now.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton90+2. Solly March is being serenaded by the travelling fans.It’s a really lovely moment given all that he’s been through in the past 18 months.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton90. The fourth official signals EIGHT minutes of stoppage time at Old Trafford.It just seems cruel on the home fans at this point. Just put them out of their misery now and let them get home while it’s still light.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton88. A wild shot from Garnacho sails into the Stretford End, and United’s only on target attempt today remains Bruno Fernandes’ penalty.Meanwhile, is it game on at the City Ground in stoppage time?Nott’m Forest 3-2 Southampton (Onuachu 90+1′)Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton86. And now the fans are heading for the exits.Joao Pedro has gone down off the ball and is holding his face, but there’s nothing in it. The striker is just happy to eat up a few more seconds.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton84. Rasmus Hojlund and Antony are on for United, which may be the greatest indication yet that they have given up on this one; Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui are the players replaced.Meanwhile, Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey is on for Pervis Estupinan.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton82. Both managers are preparing further changes for the final stages.Meanwhile, the afternoon’s other Premier League games are also 3-1 in score.Everton 3-1 Tottenham (Kulusevski 77′)Nott’m Forest 3-1 Southampton (Bednarek 60′)Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton80. On the touchline, Ruben Amorim cuts a bemused figure.He must have felt he had turned the corner after the recent away performances at Liverpool and Arsenal.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton78. Old Trafford hasn’t so much emptied out, but it’s gone very, very quiet.It’s the travelling Brighton fans making all the noise.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-3 Brighton76. Georginio Rutter makes it three – and that’s surely the points in the bag for the Seagulls!Brighton had been threatening to expose the gaps on the United flanks, and Solly March does just that with a beautiful pass around the corner to Yasin Ayari.Down the right, Ayari’s low cross into the area should be meat and drink for Andre Onana, but the United goalkeeper inexplicably spills the ball in his attempt to gather.It leaves the opportunity at the feet of grateful substitute Rutter, who makes no mistake in firing home for 3-1.Brighton are in dreamland, and on the verge of a third successive win at Old Trafford.Copy linkCopiedAn Andre Onana disasterclass!Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton73. That’s better from Amad!Pace and trickery takes him away from Estupinan, and his cut back to Zirzee isn’t bad either. The show, however, is blocked.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton71. Baleba mops up superbly as Garnacho threatens to burst into the box.United didn’t get going until the 82nd minute on Thursday, but their star man of that night – Amad Diallo – has gone missing in this half – so far.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton69. A double switch for the visitors.Mr Brighton Solly March is on as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury, and he’s joined by Georginio Rutter.Yankuba Minteh departs with a goal and an assist to his name, and it’s also the end of Danny Welbeck’s return to Old Trafford.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton67. Into the final quarter and despite United needing a goal, it’s Brighton looking the more likely to score again.The Seagulls are now finding so much room on the counter.Copy linkCopiedFrom Martin Blackburn at Old TraffordDarts champ Luke Littler – a boyhood United fan – was on the pitch parading his PDC World Crown at half-time.But it might be the only silverware seen round these parts for a while.It was Brighton that saw a goal by Joao Pedro harshly chalked off but they did hit the bullseye a few minutes later – with Mitoma converting a cross by Minteh.United’s mini revival is in real danger of collapsing here.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton64. It’s a double change for the Red Devils.Ugarte is one of the players to make way and the other is Kobbie Mainoo, who has struggled to get into the game.Alejandro Garnacho and former Brighton academy player Toby Collyer are on in their place.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton62. To add insult to injury, Manuel Ugarte was booked for his challenge on Yasin Ayari in the build-up to Brighton goal.In might have been his last action of the game too with Ruben Amorim preparing changes.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-2 Brighton60. Brighton retake the lead on the hour mark – and there’s no doubt about this one!It’s brilliant refereeing from Peter Bankes too, who plays the advantage after Yasin Ayari had been taken up in the build-up by Manuel Ugarte.Yankuba Minteh takes over on the right and stands up a brilliant cross to the far post that Kaoru Mitoma bravely pokes in despite pressure from Noussair Mazraoui.Copy linkCopiedThis one does count!Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-1 Brighton57. At the other end of the pitch, another set-piece is almost perfect for De Light.Fernandes’ delivery just brushes off the head of the centre-back.Copy linkCopiedMan Utd 1-1 Brighton53. Brighton are back in front!! Or are they?!An awful free-kick into the area from Yasin Ayari after the midfielder had slipped causes chaos, but eventually it falls to Joao Pedro.An excellent first touch from the Brazilian takes him away from Joshua Zirkzee, and his second sees him power low under Andre Onana.The Seagulls celebrate but inside the area Diogo Dalot is down and complaining about a challenge on him.The video officials take a close look and decide that Jan Paul van Hecke and kicked the underside of Dalot’s boot a split second after he cleared the ball.Peter Bankes is sent to the pitchside monitor and he echoes VAR’s ruling, disallowing the goal for a supposed foul.A lucky escape for Manchester United.Copy linkCopied More

IPSWICH TOWN are hosting champions Manchester City to wrap up a thrilling day of Premier League action.Struggling City are looking to get back to winning ways following their 2-2 draw at Brentford last time out.While Ipswich lost 2-0 at home to Brighton in the midweek to end a run of three matches without a loss in all competitions.TV channel/ stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier LeagueKick-off: 4.30pmFollow ALL of the latest updates below More

ARSENAL have to settle for a point after a thrilling 2-2 with Aston Villa.Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock on 35 minutes despite Emiliano Martinez’s best efforts to stop the ball from crossing the line.After half-time, Kai Havertz ended his poor run in front of goal with a close-range finish to make it 2-0.But Arsenal’s two-goal advantage didn’t last long as Youri Tielemans headed home for 2-1.And things went from bad to worse for the Gunners after Ollie Watkins slammed home a stunning equaliser on 68 minutes.Match result: Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaArsenal team: Raya, Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Merino, Trossard, Martinelli, HavertzAston Villa team: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Tielemans, Ramsey WatkinsCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Match reportIf this is the night when Arsenal’s title hopes died, then Ollie Watkins has been their gravedigger again.But the death sentence might have been passed by Stockley Park.With less than two minutes to go the Emirate erupted as Mikel Merino’s hopeful effort from the edge of the box took a big deflection to find its way past Emi Martinez and put Mikel Arteta’s men back ahead in a game they had tossed away.Yet Merino, pointedly, did not celebrate.He knew what Jon Brooks in the VAR booth near Heathrow was going to tell ref Chris Kavanagh – that the final, vital touch to deceive Martinez had come, albeit accidentally, off Kai Havertz’ right arm.The referee had no choice but to disallow the goal – and while Merino hit the post in added time, there was to be no reprieve.Copy linkCopied’Formula’Opta report that Arsenal have scored more goals than any other Premier League side from CROSSES this season.And Trossard’s assist double both came from crosses – only the second time in the league that’s happened this season.They tweeted from OptaJoe: “Arsenal have scored more goals from crosses than any other team in the Premier League this season (11), while Leandro Trossard is one of only two players to assist 2+ goals via crosses in a game this season (also Damsgaard v Wolves in October). Formula.”Copy linkCopiedUp nextBoth sides turn their attention to Champions League duty in midweek.Then it’s back to league business next weekend with very winnable games, with the Gunners at Wolves and Villa hosting West Ham.Copy linkCopied’Disappointing day’Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli says his side need to improve for upcoming games after their second half collapse.He told Sky Sports: “It’s a disappointing day. We wanted to win the game, but we have to keep going.”We trust in ourselves, and we have to keep going and improving – it is a long journey to go. We have to focus on ourselves.”That’s football, that’s the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world. We have to see the game and see what we have done wrong and improve for the next games.”We know our qualities and we know the potential we have and we trust in ourselves.”Copy linkCopiedYouri not kiddingYouri Tielemans reckons Aston Villa were well worth their point.He told the BBC: “From our point of view [a good result] is always deserved. We take the point and move forward. They had many chances but we defended with our bodies on the line. “2-2 is a good result for us. First half we had a couple of counters, misplaced passes from me which could have put Ollie Watkins in.”We fought really well to come back into the game.”Copy linkCopiedForward ratingsLEANDRO TROSSARD – 8: Deflected effort was comfortable for Martinez but his superb cross made life much harder for the Villa keeper to tee up Martinez for the opener before blazing over himself. The Belgian racked up his fifth Prem assist of the season in the second half for Havertz.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8: Threatened at the far post early on, but got his rewards from the same position in the 35th minute with a stabbed effort ahead of Maatsen.KAI HAVERTZ – 8: Again, lack of decent service left him living off scraps, but when he got a scrap he fired an effort straight at Martinez from close range. The German more than made up for it after the break with a clinical finish, even if Martinez should have done better. That will do wonders for his confidence.Copy linkCopiedMidfielder ratingsMIKEL MERINO – 6: A workman-like performance – won his duels and worked his socks off, but the small details were missing, shanking a good chance well wide in the first half. He then lost his marker to allow Tielemans to head in and make it 2-1. Could have won it at the end with a scuffed effort in off Havertz that VAR chalked off and smacked the post too.DECLAN RICE – 7: Integral to everything good about Arsenal and came close with a long-range punt in the second half.MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6: A solid display but he is really missing his partner in crime in Saka. He created as much as he could but sometimes needs to be more selfish to drag his team over the line.Copy linkCopiedPlayer ratingsHere’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies scored the Gunners players tonight, starting with the defenders:DAVID RAYA – 6: Let down by those in front of him for both goals, a duo of close range efforts he had no chance with.MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8: With performances like this, he is suddenly the first name on the team sheet for Arteta. So calm and composed for someone so young, and his strength against bigger opposition is scary at times.GABRIEL – 7: Made a crucial tackle one-on-one with Watkins and another block from a speedy counterJURRIEN TIMBER – 7: Alert to foil counters against the pace of Watkins and coped well in general. It is not his fault that he doesn’t have the defensive presence of Saliba.Copy linkCopiedThe damageHere’s how the top of the Premier League table looks after today’s results.Liverpool started the day four points clear with a game in hand – they’re now SIX clear with that game in hand still.Nottingham Forest with the chance to move level on points with Arsenal if they beat Southampton at home tomorrow.The battle for top four looks set to be a good one too!Copy linkCopiedFT: Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaThis place, around the stadium was bouncing at 4.45pm when it looked like Liverpool were dropping points.Incredibly, Arsenal go to bed tonight even further behind Liverpool in the title race.To watch Liverpool score two in stoppage time would’ve been bad enough.To then bottle a 2-0 lead is unforgivable in most circumstances. After today’s events probably moreso.Just one win from their last five games now too….Copy linkCopiedFULL TIMEHugely damaging, costly COLLAPSE from Arsenal. Boos at the whistle too.Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaCopy linkCopied90+7 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaOdegaard’s delivery is abysmal. High, lofty and straight into the arms of Martinez.Not great from him or the set piece coach.Copy linkCopied90+7 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaHere he comes – the set piece coach is front and centre!Arsenal have a free kick, 15 yards from the Villa byline on the right. Odegaard will send it in in-swinging.Copy linkCopied90+6 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaWHAT A CHANCE FOR TROSSARD!!!Ohhh Arsenal and their fans can’t believe it. Arteta is almost on his knees, HE can’t believe it.Trossard looks to have broken the offside trap with a clever pass through to him on the left. It’s just Martinez to beat on his left foot and he drags his shot a foot wide of the far post. Agony!Copy linkCopied90+5 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaNow Rogers is booked for stopping Arsenal taking their throw-in quickly.Copy linkCopied90+4 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaSterling in comfortable possession gives the ball away at the edge of the Villa box.It’s to Jhon Duran and Villa have nobody to hit but they get out of trouble when Sterling swipes him from behind to give the free kick away.Sterling is booked for it too.Copy linkCopied90+2 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaUp the other end now and Villa work it well to get Youri Tielemans on it at the edge of the box.He drags his shot just wide and it looks like Raya may well got a touch. Not so, according to the referee as Arsenal get the goal kick.Copy linkCopied90 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaSEVEN MINUTES ADDED!Copy linkCopied90 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaNothing comes of the corner as a foul is given to Villa in the middle.Copy linkCopied90 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaMERINO HITS THE POST!Pinball inside the box as Merino gets space in the box and fires it off the post. It bounces around and is kept alive, worked to Trossard on the left at an angle and he fires low and hard at goal and Martinez scrambles across to keep it out.Now Trossard is cheerleader to gee the home crowd up as they win a corner.Copy linkCopied88 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaMerino has a strike from the edge of the box heading towards goal and it hits Kai Havertz on the way through.It wrong foots Martinez and ends up in the far corner.The first replay shows it quite clearly hits his arm on the way in. He’s pointing to his side but unfortunately for him, there’s replays involved in football that show he’s not telling the truth.The home support boo as the replay is shown but not quite sure why.Copy linkCopiedSCRATCH THAT…NO GOAL – VAR RULES IT OUT FOR HANDBALL!Copy linkCopiedTHEY’RE BACK IN FRONT!Copy linkCopied86– Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaClose for Aston Villa!It’s a rapid counter attack led by Rogers who bursts through the middle of the park unchallenged.He works it to Bailey on the right edge of the area and as Arsenal try to block the cross, it’s laid back to Bogarde who strikes low and hard through the bodies and Raya just manages to keep it out.Copy linkCopied83 – Arsenal 2-2 Aston VillaAaaand another change for Aston Villa.All a bit stop-start at the minute, just as Villa want it at the minute.OFF: Jacob RamseyON: Leon BaileyCopy linkCopied More