Christmas Eve brought no joy to Chelsea in their first Premier League fixture on this date since 1995, as they suffered a distressing 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves extended their impressive home record, adding to Chelsea’s recent struggles. Mauricio Pochettino’s side entered the festive period with four losses in their last six matches, courtesy of Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty’s second-half goals earning Wolves a commendable victory. This poor form has seen Chelsea slump to a third defeat in their last four Premier League games, showing a significant downturn as the New Year approaches.

Chelsea’s loss at the Molineux Stadium was especially deflating, marking their highest number of Premier League match losses in 2023. As a result, Pochettino saw little Christmas cheer as he witnessed his club’s decline continue. Despite the gloom, Chelsea will enter the New Year determined to turn their fortunes around and restore their position among the Premier League’s elite.