Chelsea held off a spiriting Wolves comeback to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Chelsea raced into the lead with first-half goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao and Molineux turned toxic, with ‘sacked in the morning’ chants aimed at manager Vitor Pereira.
But the second half was a different story as Tolu Arokodare and David Moller Wolfe scored to give the hosts hope.
Liam Delap returned from injury only to be sent off for two yellow cards, but Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’ wonderful strike appeared to clinch the game for 10-man Chelsea.
Yet Wolfe scored another moments later to set up a frantic finish, as Chelsea clung on to progress.
Follow all the reaction from Wolves v Chelsea below.
Wolves v Chelsea live
- Wolves host Chelsea in all-Premier League clash | 7.45pm GMT kick-off live on Sky Sports+
- Both sides looking to bounce back after disappointing Premier League defeats at the weekend
- Wolves: Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Wolfe; Agbadou, Joao Gomes, Fer Lopez; Tchatchoua, Hwang, Arokodare.
- Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Hato; Lavia, Santos, Buonanotte; Estevao, Gittens, George.
- GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Chelsea (Andrey Santos, 5 min)
- GOAL! Wolves 0-2 Chelsea (George, 15 min)
- GOAL! Wolves 0-3 Chelsea (Estevao, 40 min)
- GOAL! Wolves 1-3 Chelsea (Arokodare, 48 min)
- GOAL! Wolves 2-3 Chelsea (Wolfe, 73 min)
- Red card! Liam Delap sent off for second booking
- GOAL! Wolves 2-4 Chelsea (Gittens, 89 min)
- GOAL! Wolves 3-4 Chelsea (Wolfe, 90+1 min)
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 3 - 4 Chelsea FC
Match summary
22:01 , Lawrence OstlereChelsea held off a second-half comeback against a spirited Wolves to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 4-3 win.
Enzo Maresca's side, featuring 10 changes, looked like sweeping to a handsome victory as they coasted into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao.
The atmosphere was toxic at Molineux as the hosts' miserable season looked to be hitting new lows, but Vitor Pereira's men rallied after the break and launched a stirring comeback.
Goals from Tolu Arokodare and David Moller Wolfe had Chelsea on the rack, but Jamie Gittens' 90th minute strike seemed to have ensured Chelsea's victory.
However, Wolfe scored his second moments later as Wolves kept on pushing - but they could not find the leveller.
Full-time: Wolves 3-4 Chelsea
21:47 , Lawrence OstlereYou can follow the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw right here:
Carabao Cup draw live: Last eight learn quarter-final opponents
Full-time: Wolves 3-4 Chelsea
21:41 , Lawrence OstlereChelsea cling on! What a wild football match that was.
Wolves 3-4 Chelsea
21:40 , Lawrence Ostlere90+5 min: Wolves fling the ball into the box and Gomes wins the header but Caicedo is there to clear away the bouncing ball. Throw in...
Wolves 3-4 Chelsea
21:37 , Lawrence Ostlere90+3 min: This one will go straight to penalties if Wolves can find another goal, but Chelsea are repelling their long balls forwards so far.
GOAL! Wolves 3-4 Chelsea (Wolfe, 90+1 min)
21:35 , Lawrence OstlereWhat on earth are we watching?! Wolves pump the ball forwards, Chelsea fail to clear in the box and Wolfe manages to lift the ball over Jorgensen from close range, while getting wiped out by a defender. Wow...
GOAL! Wolves 2-4 Chelsea (Gittens, 89 min)
21:34 , Lawrence OstlereWhat a goal! Jamie Bynoe-Gittens pounces on a loose ball around 25 yards out and smashes it first time in off the post. It’s a stunner, and that must be game over – although there will be six minutes added on.
Red card! Liam Delap
21:31 , Lawrence Ostlere86 min: Oh dear, oh dear. What is he thinking?
Liam Delap’s return to action lasts only a few minutes. He crashes an elbow into the face of Mosquera. It should be a straight red card, but a second yellow card brings the same result – he’s off. Delap smiles as he leaves the pitch but I’m not sure why. That was one of the worst appearances of any player all season in any competition.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:29 , Lawrence Ostlere85 min: Maresca makes a final change and it shows exactly how seriously he is taking this moment: Moises Caicedo replaces Buonanotte.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:27 , Lawrence Ostlere83 min: Chance for Chelsea as Fernandez fires in a free-kick to the penalty spot, where Tosin attempts a header but ends up using his shoulder to miss the target.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:25 , Lawrence Ostlere80 min: Arokodare, who has been lively and scored a fine goal, is replaced by Bellegarde.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:24 , Lawrence Ostlere78 min: Liam Delap pushes Mosquera, who falls to the floor, and Wolves players urge the referee to take action. Yellow card is the verdict. A bit silly, that, by Delap.
What a second half for Wolves
21:22 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:20 , Lawrence Ostlere75 min: Chelsea conceded from a second-phase throw-in on the weekend against Sunderland, and it’s happened again.
Enzo Maresca makes another change, bringing on Pedro Neto for Tyrique George.
GOAL! Wolves 2-3 Chelsea (Wolfe, 73 min)
21:17 , Lawrence OstlereWhat a finish this is – Wolves toss a long throw into the box, which gets nodded and flicked and prodded across the area to the back post where Wolfe arrives to fire the bouncing ball back across goal and into the far corner.
Where has this come from? Wow.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:13 , Lawrence Ostlere67 min: Vitor Pereira throws on Jorgen Strand Larsen and the striker almost scores immediately, scuffing a big chance at the back post which Jorgensen leaps across to push away.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:08 , Lawrence Ostlere63 min: The game has entered a bit of a lull, which Chelsea won’t mind.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:05 , Lawrence Ostlere60 min: Enzo Maresca makes three changes. Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez and Liam Delap come on, replacing Gusto, Lavia and Estevao.
Delap is back for the first time in two months.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:04 , Lawrence Ostlere58 min: So close! Mosquera wins the header and flicks the ball towards the far post but it bounces just wide. That would have made things interesting.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:02 , Lawrence Ostlere56 min: Wolves have a free-kick in a promising position on the left wing. Hwang will cross...
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
20:57 , Lawrence Ostlere52 min: Hwang smashes through Lavia very late and Tosin is not happy, sticking up for his teammate by confronting the Wolves forward, who is booked. Rightly so, that was a poor challenge.
GOAL! Wolves 1-3 Chelsea (Arokodare, 48 min)
20:53 , Lawrence OstlereThey’ve got one back! Wolves steal the ball in midfield and race forwards. Hwang feeds Tolu Arokodare on the left side who takes a really neat first touch, steps into the box and fires the ball past Jorgensen.
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:51 , Lawrence Ostlere46 min: Back underway, and Wolves almost strike immediately as Arokodare gets a look at goal but misses the target.
Half-time: Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace
20:46 , Lawrence OstlereYet another Liverpool defeat is potentially unfolding tonight, by the way, as Crystal Palace lead 2-0. You can read about that one here:
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace live: Latest score and goal updates from Carabao Cup tie
Half-time: Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:33 , Lawrence OstlereLoud boos ring around Molineux.
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:32 , Lawrence Ostlere45+1 min: Wolves fans are ironically cheering every pass they complete.
Estevao's cheeky chip makes it three
20:32 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:29 , Lawrence Ostlere43 min: Huge chance! A Wolves free-kick comes into the middle where Arokodare escapes the Chelsea defence to earn a free header, 10 yards out, but he misses the target.
GOAL! Wolves 0-3 Chelsea (Estevao, 40 min)
20:27 , Lawrence OstlereThis is a disastrous goal for Wolves and brilliant finish by Estevao. Sa gives Lopez a terrible pass, running back towards his own goal with Andrey Santos on his back. Lopez takes a loose touch, Santos pinches it, and Estevao takes over before lifting a beautiful chip over Sa and into the net.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:24 , Lawrence Ostlere37 min: Better from Wolves, who probe around the box, but they look confused once they get into dangerous positions and are making poor choices. Hwang is the latest example, shifting away from a couple of Chelsea defenders on the left side but then hesitating, and the moment to deliver a cross vanishes.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:20 , Lawrence Ostlere34 min: Chelsea almost gift Wolves a way back into the game when Jorgensen passes short to Buonanotte who is being heavily pressed in his own box. Fortunately for Chelsea, the referee deems he was unfairly hustled off the ball.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:19 , Lawrence Ostlere32 min: Agbadou takes a terrible shot from perhaps 40 yards – an incomprehensible decision.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:17 , Lawrence Ostlere31 min: Rodrigo Gomes is booked for clatting into Buonanotte.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:16 , Lawrence Ostlere30 min: A half chance for Wolves as Arokodare heads a free-kick back across goal to Hwang, but the Korean lashes a volley over the bar from 12 yards.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:15 , Lawrence Ostlere28 min: Arokodare does really well to battle for the ball with a couple of Chelsea defenders and fires a pass towards Hwang haring towards the box, but Tosin does well to get back and intercept.
George scores third goal of the season
20:13 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:11 , Lawrence Ostlere25 min: Chelsea continue to dominate the play. Estevao tries his luck from range but whips his shot well over the bar.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:09 , Lawrence Ostlere23 min: Chelsea keep coming and the latest chance is for Estevao, who tries to pull off an outrageous bicycle kick from close range after flicking a cross into the air. Unfortunately he clatters an opponent with his high boot, and he’s booked.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:07 , Lawrence Ostlere20 min: It gets worse for Wolves as Matt Doherty goes off injured. He’s replaced by Rodrigo Gomes.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:04 , Lawrence Ostlere19 min: “We want Fosun out”, “we’re going down” and “sacked in the morning” come the chants from the terraces. Wolves fans are not happy.
George almost adds a third, steering the ball just wide from the penalty spot with his outstretched toe.
GOAL! Wolves 0-2 Chelsea (George, 15 min)
20:01 , Lawrence OstlereWell this was too easy. Chelsea turnover the ball and suddenly have vast space to run into. They work it left for Gittens who dribbles into the area before firing a low cross into the six-yard box, where Tyrique George is in the right place to tap home.
Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
19:59 , Lawrence Ostlere13 min: Good defending by Gusto to get a toe to the ball and stop Wolfe from pulling off a sharp one-two down the left wing. Wolves have reacted well since the goal and the home fans are in good voice, here.
Andrey Santo goal is the difference
19:57 , Lawrence Ostlere
Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
19:56 , Lawrence Ostlere10 min: Arokodare surges towards the Chelsea box and gets a shot off but drags the ball wide of the left post.
Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
19:54 , Lawrence Ostlere8 min: I’m informed that is the 17th goal Wolves have conceded at home in all competitions. That’s pretty shocking in late October.
The hosts come forwards down the right with Tchatchoua but he can’t pick out a teammate in the centre.
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Chelsea (Andrey Santos, 5 min)
19:52 , Lawrence OstlereWhat a start by the visitors! They have been piling on the pressure and it finally tells. Arokodare gives away the ball in midfield and Gittens pounces on it outside the box. He takes a heavy touch but Andrey Santos takes over, shuffles the ball out of his feet and fires a low shot past Sa into the corner. Lovely finish.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
19:50 , Lawrence Ostlere4 min: Gusto crosses from the right after a neat move, and Tchatchoua heads behind to concede the corner. It’s all Chelsea so far.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
19:48 , Lawrence Ostlere2 min: Estevao digs out a cross and Wolves clear their lines. Chelsea work it back to the Brazilian on the edge of the box, but his flicked pass to George is overhit.
Kick-off! Wolves v Chelsea
19:45 , Lawrence OstlereHere we go then, the players are ready and it’s Buonanotte who gets the game going for the visitors. Wolves v Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup...
Wolves v Chelsea
19:41 , Lawrence OstlereThere’s a lot of loud music and flashing lights around Molineux right now to get the crowd going, though it’s not exactly party time at Wolves. Bottom of the table, hearts broken by Burnley on the weekend, can they pull off an upset tonight to lift morale?
The players are in the tunnel, where Chelsea substitute Pedro Neto is getting some hugs from his old Wolves teammates.
Wolves v Chelsea: Line-ups
19:35 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder of the two teams tonight, as Wolves make 11 changes from the weekend and Chelsea make 10.
Wolves: Sa; Tchatchoua, Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Wolfe; Agbadou, J. Gomes, Fer; Lopez, Hwang, Arokodare.
Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Munetsi, R.Gomes, Chirewa, Bellegarde, Mane, Krejci, Strand Larsen.
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Hato; Lavia, Santos, Buonanotte; Estevao, Gittens, George.
Subs: Sanchez, Fofana, James, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro, Delap.
Some pre-match pictures at Molineux
19:28 , Lawrence OstlereThe players have arrived for this one...
Also tonight...
19:22 , Lawrence OstlereThere are five Carabao Cup games going on tonight and you can follow some of those live with The Independent too:
Follow Arsenal v Brighton here, and Liverpool vs Crystal Palace here.
Hazard retired too early but for good reason, says Desailly
19:07 , Lawrence OstlereThe Independent spoke to Marcel Desailly this week, who had some interesting things to say about Eden Hazard’s career. You can read that interview here:
Hazard retired too early but for good reason, says Chelsea legend Desailly
Chelsea missed one player more than the rest against Sunderland
19:02 , Lawrence OstlereThere were moments watching Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday which brought to mind that joke about Leicester winning the Premier League with three players in midfield: Danny Drinkwater in the middle and N’Golo Kante either side. There were times against Sunderland when Moises Caicedo filled the Kante role, essentially a one-man band without the ball as he attempted to break up attacks and snuff out passing lanes, running past teammates en route to the next fire.
Caicedo was notionally part of a midfield three with Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro, but his partners do not possess great defensive instincts and it showed in this 2-1 defeat, where Sunderland found it too easy to play through the centre of the pitch, and to defend it. Their late winner by Chemsdine Talbi was a gut-punch which emptied half the stadium onto Fulham Road, but it was well deserved.
Read more:
Chelsea miss one player more than the rest and it’s not Cole Palmer
Delap returns to Chelsea bench after two-month lay-off
18:53 , Lawrence OstlereChelsea fans will be pleased to see Liam Delap back on the bench. Joao Pedro has looked unfit in recent weeks while Marc Guiu has been energetic but lacked any great cutting edge. Delap is Chelsea’s best No 9 and they need him firing.
Both managers make sweeping changes
18:45 , Lawrence OstlereSo Vitor Pereira makes 11 changes to the side that were beaten by Burnley on the weekend, and Enzo Maresca makes 10 – Josh Acheampong, who was fantastic against Sunderland, is the only player on either side who started in the Premier League this weekend.
Wolves v Chelsea: Confirmed line-ups
18:38 , Lawrence OstlereAnd here they are written down, because that Chelsea graphic is frankly illegible.
Wolves: Sa; Tchatchoua, Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Wolfe; Agbadou, J. Gomes, Fer; Lopez, Hwang, Arokodare.
Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Munetsi, R.Gomes, Chirewa, Bellegarde, Mane, Krejci, Strand Larsen.
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Hato; Lavia, Santos, Buonanotte; Estevao, Gittens, George.
Subs: Sanchez, Fofana, James, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro, Delap.
Wolves v Chelsea: Confirmed line-ups
18:34 , Lawrence OstlereThe teams are in...
🔄 11 changes from #WOLBUR
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 29, 2025
Our line-up to face @ChelseaFC 📋 pic.twitter.com/c6zDIcs1uC
Your Wednesday night Blues. 📋#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/0DuaZQfiL1
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 29, 2025
Maresca set to rotate his XI
18:24 , Lawrence OstlereEnzo Maresca said this week that he will have to rotate his team following the Sunderland defeat in a bit to protect players such as Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro, who are managing minor injuries.
But there was good news, with Liam Delap set to be involved tonight after two months out with a hamstring injury.
Confirmed line-ups coming shortly...
Chelsea must ‘protect players’ to avoid ‘struggling’ this season, says Enzo Maresca
Last time out...
18:17 , Lawrence OstlereChelsea meanwhile suffered their own late blow as Sunderland hit them with a late counter-attack to win 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Chemsdine Talbi, the 20-year-old Morocco international, strode unmarked into the box to sweep home after Brian Brobbey had held the ball up all on his own against two defenders, sparking delirious scenes amongst away supporters in the Shed End.
Strand Larsen backs Pereira
18:12 , Lawrence OstlereStrand Larsen insisted that Pereira has the full backing of the squad following the latest blow to their season.
"Yes, of course, all of us are (behind Pereira). We know what we did last season. We're not blaming anyone here. It's just where we are right now,” the striker said.
"We don't blame anyone else. We don't think that (it is) someone's fault. It's all of us. We just have to keep on going and try to make the best out of it."
Pereira understands Wolves fans' frustration
18:05 , Lawrence Ostlere"We understand the frustration of the people and supporters but what I must say, if we fight united with them, we can win games and compete and achieve our targets - without them, it is impossible," the Portuguese manager told reporters.
"Two months ago they sang my name, because together with the work we did last season, we are competing in the Premier League and not the Championship. Now they sing my name to sack me.
"If I was a supporter, I feel proud of my team because they worked and showed the spirit, mentality and ambition to win the game, even when losing 2-0 (after 30 minutes).”
Last time out...
17:58 , Lawrence OstlereIt was a rough weekend for Wolves, as Lyle Foster scored in the fifth minute of added time to hand Burnley a first win on the road this season.
Molineux turned toxic after the final whistle and manager Vitor Pereira went to the fans – along with Jorgen Strand Larsen – and exchanged in heated discussions in front of the South Bank, which ended with the Wolves fans chanting “sacked in the morning” at their manager.
How to watch
17:46 , Lawrence OstlereWolves v Chelsea kicks off at 7.45pm GMT at Molineux tonight. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the action online via the Sky Sports website and app, or via Sky Go.
Wolves v Chelsea
17:33 , Lawrence OstlereWolves take on Chelsea tonight in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup as both sides look to bounce back from disappointing defeats in the Premier League.
Wolves fought their way back into the match with Burnley only to concede a late goal and stay rooted to bottom spot in the Premier League. The result sparked angry scenes in the stands and manager Vitor Pereira was seen confronting supporters after full-time.
Chelsea also succumbed to a late goal against a promoted side as Sunderland’s late winner saw them triumph 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Manager Enzo Maresca has said he will have to rest some of his key players at Molineux in a bid to manage their workload.
Wolves v Chelsea
17:25 , Lawrence OstlereHello and welcome along to live coverage of Wolves v Chelsea as the Premier League sides compete for a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
