Chelsea 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis | Premier League 2018-19

Chelsea salvaged a crucial point in the end against Wolves
Chelsea salvaged a crucial point in the end against Wolves

A 92nd minute beauty from Eden Hazard was what it needed for Chelsea to claim a point against a well-drilled Wolverhampton Wanderers side at Stamford Bridge. They spurned a chance to leapfrog both Manchester United and Arsenal for the time being, but these points are priceless, nevertheless.

The Blues dominated the majority of the contest, but a scrappy goal from Raul Jimenez just before the hour mark put Wolves in front.

The visitors didn't give Chelsea a single chance, but one simply cannot block the genius of Eden Hazard. The Belgium skipper took it upon himself, cut past a challenge to make room and launched one on goal, leaving Rui Patricio with no chance whatsoever.

On that note, let's take a look at the major talking points from Chelsea's draw against Wolves.


#1 Chelsea dominate play as Wolves set up on the counter

The first half an hour of the game was a cagey affair
The first half an hour of the game was a cagey affair

Even before the first whistle, Wolves skipper Conor Coady, while buoying up his fellow men, was gesturing everybody to narrow down whenever Chelsea got the ball.

The exact same panned out in the opening 10 minutes, as Chelsea exchanges passes all around the pitch, looking to crack open a resolute Wolves defence. It took about two minutes nine seconds for the visitors to kick about the ball for the first time - such was their defensive organisation and Chelsea's ascendancy.

As far as Nuno Espirito Santo's side were concerned, all bodies were behind the ball. Each one of them had their tasks cut out, and in pairs, the yellow shirts circumscribed Chelsea players in their defensive third.

Not only were Chelsea made to move the ball much quicker, they were forced to knock it wide and try to cross it into an area flooded with three center halves and two midfielders, all narrowly placed.

Gonzalo Higuain looked the most threatening for Chelsea, as his movement was the only commodity that looked like infusing a mild pinch of confusion among the opposition ranks. He had about three attempts on goal in the first half an hour, but only one was on target, that too from the tightest of angles.

Otherwise, there was nothing that overly bothered Rui Patricio in goal.

#2 Wolves get full marks for their game plan in the first half

Roman Saiss adapted to the central defender's role well
Roman Saiss adapted to the central defender's role well

Kepa Arrizabalaga could have put out an armchair on a sunny Sunday afternoon at West London and played a few passes here and there.

With 78% possession and no shots faced, Chelsea completely dominated the pace of the game. But they clearly went into the tunnel as the unhappier side, due to their failure to break the deadlock.

Right from the furthermost player in Raul Jimenez to Saiss, Boly and Coady, Wolves showed 100% determination, stayed alive to every pass and forced the home. They stuck to their job and sucked the sting out of Sarri's men.

Meanwhile, Chelsea lacked the killer instinct, a telling pass. There were a few lofted passes from Jorginho here and there, but nothing other than that. The hosts moved it quickly and operated well, but there was no idea of urgency.

#3 Chelsea press for the opener but Wolves take the lead through Jimenez

Luck favors the brave, as they say
Luck favors the brave, as they say

Chelsea began the second half just as they did in the opening exchanges of the game - press for the opening goal by churning out pass after pass after pass.

They were unable to break through, as the tempo of the game was just as pedestrian-like as their exploits in the first half. However, just as it happens many a time in modern-day football, the away side took the lead from their very first effort on target. It was fortuitous, but they didn't quite care.

The ball ricocheted off a couple of Chelsea shirts before Diogo Jota sprung away for a counter-attack. The ever-so-willing Raul Jimenez, who was probably the hardest worker off the ball, got away from one blue shirt.

Cesar Azpilicueta was the one tracking back, and despite the Chelsea skipper's timely challenge, the ball nicked his foot and ended up in the back of the net. Kepa, who had not even dirtied his gloves, ended up being the one who conceded a scruffy goal.

#4 Chelsea struggle to make an impact despite substitutions, but Hazard saves the day

Just how good is he?
Just how good is he?

Maurizio Sarri needed something technically brilliant from his team, and thus he threw a couple of trump cards on in Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi. On one side, there was technical intelligence, while on the other, Sarri infused a direct attitude through Hudson-Odoi.

For the first time this season, Sarri tinkered with his tactics in terms of team shape, as Jorginho was subbed off for Willian, leaving Kante in his favoured position.

Regardless of all these changes, Chelsea looked extremely flat-footed.

It appeared as though they needed something special from one of their key players, and who better than Hazard to step up? The 28-year-old pulled a moment of magic out of his hat, stepped aside from the left to create space and fired one in the bottom corner.

Let's take a moment and celebrate his presence and guile. Take a bow, Eden Hazard.

#5 Is Gonzalo Higuain even the man for Chelsea?

Another flop in the making for Chelsea?
Another flop in the making for Chelsea?

Gonzalo Higuain has netted three goals in his Chelsea career so far - a brace against the hapless Huddersfield Town, along with a goal against a leaky Fulham outfit.

He has neither scored on any other occasion, nor he been able to weave through an opposition in the box once since switching to West London, and he has also not stepped up against the bigger, tougher oppositions.

He has barely attempted a dribble in the opposition box, and when he occasionally has, the Argentine has been robbed.

And you wonder why Olivier Giroud, who may not be the most clinical in front of goal, doesn't start matches more often for Chelsea. In fact, he has been prolific in front of goal in the Europa League.

More so, Giroud's link-up play is much better than Higuain, arguably the best in England. It's high time Higuain steps up his game, because Chelsea are not a club who like to stay on sixth place for too long.

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Edited by Sai Krishna
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