Chelsea almost threw away a three-goal cushion as they scraped past Wolves 4-3 in the Carabao Cup to reach the quarter-finals. In a rollercoaster encounter at Molineux, Enzo Maresca’s side looked as though they had put the disappointment of their last-minute defeat by Sunderland behind them, cruising into a 3-0 lead in the first half, with the Premier League’s basement boys at sixes and sevens. Andrey Santos was sent through by Jamie Gittens to slide past Jose Sa for the opener on five minutes, before Tyrique George tapped home a second on the quarter-hour with Gittens the provider once more.
Estevao scored a delightful chip with four minutes of the first period to play, as Santos caught Fer Lopez napping after a risky pass out from Sa. The hosts came out fighting in the second half, and Tolu Arokodare netted a superb strike to get them back into contention with Chelsea’s central defenders going walkabouts, and the Black Country outfit continued to press down on the accelerator. They got a second through David Moller Wolfe, who popped up at the back post to capitalise on some nervy Chelsea defending, and the home side’s hopes only grew when the returning Liam Delap was sent off for a second yellow card after he elbowed Yerson Mosquera.
Gittens netted a stunner to calm Chelsea’s jangling nerves in the 90th minute, ripping a half-volley past Sa, kissing the post on its way in, but just one minute later, the Blues were up to their old self-sabotaging tricks again, as Wolfe ghosted in at the back stick once more to clip over Filip Jorgensen and set up a grandstand finale. Maresca’s men held out, however, and they - just about - are in the hat for the last eight.
Wolves vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! Wofle dinks third
- GOAL! Gittens nets beauty
- RED CARD! Delap shown red
- GOAL! Wolfe brings hosts within one
- GOAL! Arokodare scores hosts' first
Chelsea player ratings: Gittens sparkles as Delap dismal on return
22:22 , Oli GentSam Tabuteau was on hand to rate the Chelsea players’ performances at Molineux...
Delap dismissed on return as Chelsea eke into quarters
21:53 , Oli GentIt was far from pretty in that second half, and rather alarming viewing for Maresca on the touchline, but the job is done. Just.
FT: Wolves 3-4 Chelsea
21:41 , Oli GentThat’s it. How Chelsea have almost messed that up is beyond me. I need a lie-down in a dark room after that drama.
The Blues are in the hat. Just.
Sam Tabuteau reports
21:37 , Oli Gent90+3 mins: Just when you think Chelsea's blushes have been spared Wolves go up the other end and score. A topsy turvy game takes another twist.
Goal! Wolves 3-4 Chelsea
21:35 , Oli Gent90+1 min: What is going on, Wolves are back within one immediately! Chelsea defend terribly, and the punt is flicked on by Strand Larsen. It finds its way to Wolfe, who ghosts in for his second!
Goal! Wolves 2-4 Chelsea
21:33 , Oli Gent90 mins: That should do it, and Jamie Gittens seals it for Chelsea. What a goal that is, as the winger nets an absolute beauty on the half-volley with the outside of his boot! In off the post as well, makes it look even better.
Sam Tabuteau reports
21:31 , Oli Gent88 mins: This has been an absolute disaster from Delap who is sent off. Remarkable. Chelsea are in real danger of throwing this all away.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:30 , Oli Gent87 mins: Red card! He’s off! Liam Delap is sent off on return, with an elbow on Mosquera!
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:28 , Oli Gent86 mins: Moises Caicedo is on to replace Buonanotte.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:28 , Oli Gent85 mins: The home fans get excited as the referee blows his whistle with Joao Gomes down in the box. However, it’s gone in Chelsea’s favour, with Hato adjudged to have been fouled.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:24 , Oli Gent83 mins: Arokodare is replaced by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:24 , Oli Gent81 mins: Corner, Wolves. The home support have got something to try and get behind now. The set piece is cleared, but Chelsea are looking nervy at the back. Can they hold out?
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:22 , Oli Gent80 mins: A yellow card for Delap on return, as the referee spots a pull on Mosquera off the ball.
Sam Tabuteau reports
21:20 , Oli Gent78 mins: This has been coming from Wolves. Chelsea need to be careful.
Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:19 , Oli Gent76 mins: Pedro Neto replaces George.
Goal! Wolves 2-3 Chelsea
21:17 , Oli Gent73 mins: There’s another for Wolves, and it’s David Moller Wolfe! The left-back ghosts in unmarked at the far post, with Strand Larsen and Agbadou flicking the long throw on, and he slots into the far corner beyond Jorgensen!
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:15 , Oli Gent72 mins: That’s a silly yellow for George, who kicks out at Mosquera after fouling the centre-back. He wasn’t going anywhere, so why’s he done that?
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:13 , Oli Gent70 mins: What a save! That’s a superb stop from Jorgensen, who denies Strand Larsen from point-blank range. The cross in from Wolfe is good, and its’s flicked on by Arokodare at the near post, with Strand Larsen looking to hook it home, but Jorgensen keeps him out!
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:11 , Oli Gent69 mins: Hwang is off, Jorgen Strand Larsen is on.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:09 , Oli Gent66 mins: Time for a long Toti throw. He launches on into the near post for Agbadou as it drops for Joao Gomes and Mosquera throws himself at it with Chelsea at sixes and sevens, but Jorgensen claims!
Sam Tabuteau reports
21:04 , Oli Gent62 mins: Liam Delap comes on. A big moment for the Chelsea striker, who has been out since the end of August with a hamstring injury. He replaces Estevao, Enzo Fernandez is on for Lavia, and Marc Cucurella replaces Gusto.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:03 , Oli Gent60 mins: Close! Another chance for Wolves as the free kick is teased in, and Mosquera launches himself at it, only to direct the header wide!
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
21:00 , Oli Gent57 mins: Free kick, Wolves. Lavia gets his own back as he chops Hwang down.
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
20:57 , Oli Gent54 mins: There’s more unconvincing defending from Chelsea, before handbags between Tosin and Hwang, who are in disagreement over a foul on Lavia. Hwang is booked.
Sam Tabuteau reports
20:54 , Oli Gent51 mins: Wolves have a goal back and this time it's a mistake from Chelsea. They continue to be architects of their own downfall.
Goal! Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
20:52 , Oli Gent49 mins: Wolves are back in it, and it’s Arokodare who lashes home! Hwang tees him up, and it’s a lovely first touch across his body, before firing low beyond Jorgensen! Game on.
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:51 , Oli Gent48 mins: Confirmation of two half-time changes for the hosts as well, with Marshall Munetsi and Ladislav Krejci replacing Gomes and Lopez.
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:50 , Oli Gent47 mins: Close! A long ball is punted long and the knockdown is latched onto by Arokodare, who has a go, but it whistles just over the top!
Kick off!
20:49 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:33 , Oli GentThe boos echo around Molineux as we reach the interval. The home supporters don’t want a second half, but they’ve got one coming.
What will it have in store?
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:30 , Oli Gent45+1 min: Three added minutes
Sam Tabuteau reports
20:30 , Oli Gent45 mins: That goal is simply sublime from Estevao, but it is absolutely hopeless from Wolves who lose the ball under pressure again. 3-0, surely game over.
Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:28 , Oli Gent43 mins; Close! The free kick is teased in from Lopez, and Arokodare flicks a header at goal, totally unmarked! He has to do better, as he nods wide!
Goal! Wolves 0-3 Chelsea
20:27 , Oli Gent41 mins: It’s three, and it’s Estevao! Boos ring around Molineux, as another Wolves error gifts the visitors a third. Sa plays Lopez into trouble, and he loses it against Santos. It breaks for Estevao, who dinks it over the onrushing keeper beautifully!
Sam Tabuteau reports
20:23 , Oli Gent40 mins: Wolves are showing a bit more here, but as tends to be the case with Chelsea, you feel it will be a mistake of their own making that gives the hosts a route back into this.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:22 , Oli Gent38 mins: Close! That could have gone anywhere as Wolves have their first meaningful attack. It’s knocked in nicely from Lopez, and it’s Buonanotte who puts it behind unconvincingly! The corner doesn’t come to anything, however.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:19 , Oli Gent36 mins: Since Doherty has come off, it’s Tchatchoua who has moved back to right-back, with Gomes moving into the right-wing berth.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:18 , Oli Gent33 mins: That’s a highly speculative effort from Agbadou. He has some space from a long, long way out, but he makes the wrong decision as he smashes an effort wide of the target.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:17 , Oli Gent32 mins: Free kick. Chelsea. Rodrigo Gomes gets a yellow for a late challenge on Gittens.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:16 , Oli Gent31 mins: Close! That’s a chance for Wolves. The free kick is hung up towards Arokodare, who knocks it down well. It comes for Hwang, who leans back and skies the half-volley.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:14 , Oli Gent30 mins: Free kick, Wolves. Estevao is penalised for a trip on Hwang.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:12 , Oli Gent27 mins: Close! Estevao receives the ball on the half turn and shifts it onto his left. He cuts inside and aims for the far corner, but it whistles over the top.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:09 , Oli Gent24 mins: Free kick, Wolves. Hato teases a cross into the far post, and it’s flicked up invitingly for Estevao to have a go at the overhead, but he makes contact with Wolfe’s head and earns himself a yellow card in doing so.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:04 , Oli Gent21 mins: Matt Doherty was down following the second goal, and is replaced by Rodrigo Gomes as he cannot continue.
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:04 , Oli Gent20 mins: Close! Gittens has been bright, twisting and turning as he works infield. He goes for the far corner with a cross-shot, and it deflects into the path of George, who can’t divert it home from close range!
Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:03 , Oli Gent19 mins: And now the angry chants from the home fans come. “We’re going down” starts it, before “You’re getting sacked in the morning” gets directed at Vitor Pereira.
Next up, they’ve got some choice words about Jeff Shi which I won’t be repeating here...
Sam Tabuteau reports
20:02 , Oli Gent17 mins: This has been scintillating stuff from Chelsea. They get from one end of the pitch to the other in no time, with Gittens laying the ball on a plate for George to finish. 14 minutes in and Gittens has two assists to his name. The Englishman has taken his chance here.
Goal! Wolves 0-2 Chelsea
20:00 , Oli Gent15 mins: It’s two, and it’s Tyrique George! The Blues almost have one foot in the last eight, and we’re only 15 minutes in. Gittens breaks down the left, speeding to the byline past Doherty, and sliding it across for George to tap home.
Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
19:57 , Oli Gent12 mins: It’s been a strong start so far from Chelsea’s second string. Gittens, Buonanotte, and Estevao are linking up nicely.
Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
19:54 , Oli Gent9 mins: Close! Tchatchoua whips in a good ball, which Jorgensen goes for, and he spills it! But Wolves can’t capitalise! Nervy moment for the Chelsea keeper.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:53 , Oli Gent8 mins: Chelsea have flown out the blocks and they take the lead through Andrey Santos - his first goal for the Blues. They also started well against Sunderland it must be said...
Goal! Wolves 0-1 Chelsea
19:51 , Oli Gent6 mins: Chelsea are ahead, and it’s Andrey Santos! The Blues have the lead, and the hosts are the creators of their own downfall. Arokodare doesn’t hold the ball up, and it bobbles free for Gittens. He finds Santos, who slides home beyond Sa!
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
19:50 , Oli Gent5 mins: Corner, Chelsea. A floated ball from Gusto, which Mosquera flicks behind. Estevao delivers, but Toti clears.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
19:48 , Oli Gent4 mins: As for Chelsea, it’s as we’d expect. George is up top on his own, with Gittens and Estevao flanking Buonanotte. Gusto will have plenty of licence to maraud forward on the overlap and support moves, with Hato shifting infield to become an auxiliary centre-half.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea
19:47 , Oli Gent3 mins: Some early immediate tactical observations for you. It’s a 4-2-3-1 it seems for the hosts, with Hwang wide left, Arokodare up top, and Tchatchoua on the right flank. Fer Lopez is in the No10 position.
Out of possession, it’s a 5-4-1, with Tcahtchoua at right-back and Doherty moving inside. Lopez then shifts to the right to cover.
Kick off!
19:45 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:41 , Oli GentWhatever you might think about walkout music and light shows. Wolves undoubtedly have one of the best walkout songs with Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin.
The players are out!
19:40 , Oli GentFive minutes to kick off, it’s almost time!
10 minutes to kick off!
19:35 , Oli GentThe atmosphere is building at Molineux. Who will come out on top tonight?
Maresca reveals biggest tactical challenge
19:25 , Oli GentEnzo Maresca was in a reflective mood following the Blues’ defeat by Sunderland, touching on what his side must do better.
Three players with a real chance for Chelsea tonight
19:19 , Oli GentWe’ve picked out three players who have the opportunity to impress Maresca this evening.
Can they take their chances?
10 changes!
19:10 , Oli GentThat’s a lot from Maresca, but understandable.
Several key players either didn’t perform or looked leggy against Sunderland, and perhaps a rest this evening will sharpen them back up ahead of their trip to Tottenham at the weekend.
Josh Acheampong is the only survivor, and he is joined by Tosin, who captains the side this evening.
How will Jamie Gittens, Facundo Buonanotte, and Estevao all link up as the attacking midfield trident behind the lone ranger Tyrique George?
Sam Tabuteau's thoughts
19:00 , Oli GentSam Tabuteau gives his pre-match thoughts on the Blues’ chances this evening...
🗣️ "Teams are becoming a little bit wiser to them." @tabuteauS gives his pre-match thoughts ahead of #CFC's trip to Wolves in the Carabao Cup...
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) October 29, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/8TdV1bKDYa #WOLCHE | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/VfmIrxpYTA
Chelsea lineup
18:50 , Oli GentConfirmed Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Acheampong, Tosin, Hato; Lavia, Santos; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; George.
Subs: Sanchez, Fofana, James, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro, Delap.
Wolves lineup
18:45 , Oli GentConfirmed Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti, Wolfe; Tchatchoua, J Gomes, Lopez, Hwang; Arokodare.
Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Munetsi, Strand Larsen, R Gomes, Chirewa, Bellegarde, Mane, Krejci.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:37 , Oli Gent10 changes for Chelsea. Liam Delap is on the bench as he makes his way back from a hamstring injury, while there are rare starts for Facundo Buonanotte, Jamie Gittens, and Tyrique George. Tosin captains the side. The 27-year-old is a vocal presence within Enzo Maresca’s dressing room. A place in the quarter-final is at stake.
Who is left in the draw?
18:29 , Oli GentWho could Chelsea play should they get through Wolves tonight?
Newcastle play Tottenham at St James’ Park, while Man City take on Swansea. Arsenal host Brighton, and Liverpool face bogey side Crystal Palace.
Last night, Brentford thrashed Manchester United’s conquerors Grimsby 5-0, while Fulham needed penalties to get past Wycombe.
Cardiff defeated Welsh rivals Wrexham to advance into the quarter-finals, where they will be the lowest-ranked side.
What time is Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?
18:25 , Oli GentThe draw for the last eight takes place this evening, and the remaining sides will find out their quarter-final opponents.
Chelsea star inducted into Hall of Fame
18:15 , Oli GentThere was some good news for Eden Hazard today as he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
John Terry had something to say about the Belgian...
Chelsea's mission
18:05 , Oli GentThe Blues are out to return to winning ways this evening after their four-game win streak was snapped by Sunderland last weekend.
The west Londoners were stunned by the high-flying Black Cats, but how will they fare against the lowly Wolves today?
Standard Sport prediction
17:55 , Oli GentThe setback against Sunderland was unexpected for Chelsea after such a strong recent run as they left themselves simply too vulnerable while chasing a late winner.
But they could barely ask for better opponents in terms of quickly getting back to winning ways.
Wolves - who last won a league game in April - are in turmoil at the moment with simmering frustrations between fans, the manager and players boiling over in ugly fashion at the weekend.
We anticipate another away victory at Molineux, where another toxic evening could lie in wait.
Chelsea to win, 2-0.
Chelsea team news
17:45 , Oli GentLiam Delap is set to be involved for Chelsea for the first time since August after the striker returned to training following a hamstring injury last week but was not ready to face Sunderland.
Maresca has confirmed that he will rotate and utilise his large squad at Molineux, with the likes of Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo all set to be rested as they deal with lingering knocks that are preventing them from training fully - along with one or two other unnamed team-mates.
Cole Palmer and Benoit Badiashile are both sidelined until December, while Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo are long-term absentees.
Malo Gusto is back from suspension, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable.
Wolves team news
17:35 , Oli GentHwang Hee-chan and Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde were both passed fit for Wolves against Burnley, though Leon Chiwome is still out.
How to watch
17:25 , Oli GentTV channel: The game will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports+, with coverage beginning at 7:30pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the match live online via the Sky Go app.
Hello and welcome!
17:12 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea’s trip to Wolves in the Carabao Cup.
Enzo Maresca’s side are looking to make amends for their 2-1 defeat by Sunderland last time out, and they have a chance to make things right in cup competition this evening.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 7.45pm GMT.
