Sunday, February 4, 2024 -Mauricio Pochettino’s problems mounted as struggling Chelsea crashed to a dismal 4-2 defeat against Wolves, while Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund celebrated his 21st birthday with a goal in Sunday’s 3-0 win against West Ham.
Premier League leaders Liverpool face a crucial clash with title rivals Arsenal later on Sunday, but it was Chelsea’s travails that took the spotlight before the showdown at the Emirates Stadium.
Languishing in 11th place, Chelsea were booed off by furious fans after Matheus Cunha’s hat-trick condemned them to a second successive defeat.
Chelsea were thrashed by Liverpool 4-1 on Wednesday and their week to forget finished with an even more embarrassing loss as Wolves completed the double over the woeful west Londoners.
Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead with a composed angled finish from Moises
Caicedo’s defence-splitting pass in the 19th minute.
But Chelsea’s lead lasted just three minutes, with Cunha’s shot taking a
hefty deflection off Thiago Silva to leave Blues keeper Djordje Petrovic
wrong-footed as it whistled into the net.
Pochettino wore an exasperated look in the 43rd minute when Rayan Ait
Nouri’s shot deflected in for an own goal off Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.
The already fraught atmosphere turned even
more toxic in the 63rd minute as Pedro Neto teed up Cunha to drive in Wolves’
third goal.
Cunha’s 82nd minute penalty, awarded when he
was fouled by Malo Gusto, capped a miserable afternoon for Pochettino, who took
no consolation from Silva’s close-range finish in the 86th minute.
It has been a dispiriting first season in
charge for Pochettino and the former Tottenham boss is certain to face calls
for his sacking unless results improve quickly.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has already
shown his ruthless side by sacking Graham Potter after less than seven months
in charge last term.
With trips to Aston Villa and Manchester
City among their next three games, Chelsea could be in complete disarray by the
time they face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on February 25.
0 Comments