Enzo Maresca reveals two Chelsea injury blows after Wolves win as he gives transfer update on West Ham target

Chelsea got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Monday night as they beat Wolves 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues had gone five games without a win in the top-flight as they slipped out of the title race and the top four.

Their victory over Wolves moved them back into fourth as they now sit four points behind Nottingham Forest and Arsenal and 10 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. They are two points above Manchester City, who are fifth. Tosin Adarabioyo put the Blues ahead on 24 minutes but an error from Robert Sanchez in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time got Wolves level as Matt Doherty found the net.

However, a quick-fire double from the hosts secured all three points as Marc Cucurella scored on the hour mark with Noni Madueke netting five minutes later.

Maresca reflects on win

Reflecting on bringing their five-game winless run to an end, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: “It's complicated but I think in the five games that we did not win the performance was there. I said already many times that the problem has been inside the box where we could be a bit more clinical.

“Tonight was important to win the game. The first half, 40 minutes, the team was brilliant. Score goal, create chances, then it happened again, the same thing that already happened in the last four or five games. When we concede we lost a little bit of confidence. Then, second half, again we control the game, we score twice, we could score more. We are happy for the three points.”

Up next for Chelsea is a clash with top-four rivals Man City. Asked on the importance of getting back to winning ways before that game, Maresca said: “Absolutely, very important. Very important to win always but especially tonight after five games without a win. I think it was not easy and then again we score first and then they draw. I think the reaction was much, much better.”

Maresca discusses injury blows

Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia both missed the game through injury, and providing an update Maresca said: “Romeo is more important than Enzo. We don't know yet how long they are going to be out. Hopefully not too long. [It’s] muscle fatigue or muscle problem. We need to wait a little bit. Both were against Bournemouth. The Romeo one was the yellow card, I don't know if you remember the yellow card. Enzo, against Bournemouth, was 92 or 93 minutes just the last minutes of the game.”

Midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this month with interest from West Ham following the arrival of Graham Potter. Asked if the injuries would impact a potential departure, Maresca said: “No. We are not going to take a decision on Kiernan because of Romeo and Enzo. They are injured, absolutely. I said already, a few days ago or weeks ago, that the intention is to keep Kiernan but then because we are in January anything can happen.”