Wolves 1-3 Chelsea Player Ratings: Palmer's Hattrick Moves Chelsea Closer to Man United in The Race For Top Four

A ruthless first-half display from Chelsea, spearheaded by the sensational Cole Palmer, saw them cruise to a 3-1 victory over a self-destructing Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. The game was effectively decided before the break. We watched as Chelsea punished every mistake made by the home side to establish a healthy lead early on.

The story of this match was undoubtedly Cole Palmer's hat-trick. But the architect of Wolves' downfall was João Pedro, whose clever movement won two crucial first-half penalties.

From our perspective, Wolves were their own worst enemies. Defensive indiscipline, particularly from Matt Doherty and Yerson Mosquera, gifted Chelsea two penalties, which Palmer put in the back of the net with ease, ensuring a commanding lead.

Cole Palmer completed his hat-trick in the 38th minute from a Marc Cucurella cross, as he dispatched it with no mistake from ten yards out to make it three for the Blues within the first 40 minutes of the game.

While they showed some fight in the second half, pulling a goal back through Tolu Arokodare, the damage was already done. It was a deserved win for a clinical and composed Chelsea side.

Here are the Wolves vs Chelsea Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Matt Doherty’s foul on Joao Pedro earned Chelsea their first penalty of the game, which was dispatched effortlessly by Cole Palmer.
• Joao Pedro was again brought down in the penalty area, which gave Cole Palmer another opportunity to score his second. His third goal came in the 38th minute, thanks to a brilliant cut back from Marc Cucurella.
• Tolu Arokodare pulled one back for the hosts after Chelsea failed to clear their lines from a corner in the 54th minute.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Wolves

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Goalkeeper

Robert Sánchez - 6.5: Had a very quiet afternoon for the most part. He made one save and could do little about the goal he conceded. What stood out to us was his distribution, completing 93% of his passes. He was calm and composed whenever called upon.

Defenders

Marc Cucurella - 7.5: Provided a superb through ball for Palmer's third goal. He was a constant creative outlet, even creating a big chance. Defensively he was solid enough, although the yellow card for handball was a needless blot on his copybook. A very positive performance overall.

Trevoh Chalobah - 6.5: His passing stats were nearly perfect which was impressive. However, we noticed he was dribbled past on a couple of occasions and looked a little uncertain at times. He did his job without any major errors but wasn't as dominant as his partner. A steady if unspectacular outing.

Malo Gusto - 7.0: A real threat down the right flank before his substitution. He created two chances and had a powerful shot well-saved. From our perspective his defensive work needs refinement, as he only won one of his six attempted tackles. It was a mixed bag but his attacking intent was undeniable.

Wesley Fofana - 7.0: Looked strong and composed at the heart of the defence. He boasted a 98% pass accuracy and won most of his physical battles. He read the game well, making five clearances. It was a reassuring display that showed his quality.

Midfielders

Pedro Neto - 6.0: An unusually quiet game for a player of his calibre. He kept possession well with high pass accuracy but failed to make a significant impact in the final third. We expected more from him, but he was part of a well-oiled machine that didn't need his heroics today.

Enzo Fernández - 6.0: As captain, he was involved heavily, but it wasn't his best day. He lost possession far too often for our liking and missed a big chance. He seemed a little off the pace, unable to unlock the Wolves defence with his usual precision.

Cole Palmer - 10: A perfect performance from the star man. He was absolutely flawless. Three shots, three goals, including two ice-cool penalties and a lovely finish from open play. He was the difference-maker and was rightly subbed off after securing the match ball. One of the best individual displays we've seen all season.

Andrey Santos - 7.0: A really tidy and effective performance in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving with great efficiency and even created a big chance for Gusto. He did the simple things exceptionally well, providing the platform for the attackers to shine.

Moisés Caicedo - 8.0: An absolute monster in midfield. He was everywhere. Winning five tackles and completing 98% of his passes shows his dual threat. He broke up play effortlessly and started attacks. What stood out to us was his game intelligence, shutting down danger before it even began.

Forwards

João Pedro - 8.5: He didn't get on the scoresheet, but his contribution was immense. His intelligent and tricky movement inside the box was too much for the Wolves defence, winning both penalties that broke the game open. He was a constant menace and the true catalyst for this victory.

Substitutes

Alejandro Garnacho - N/A: Came on for the hat-trick hero Palmer with the game already won.

Liam Delap - N/A: Replaced the influential João Pedro late on.

Josh Acheampong - N/A: Given a late run-out in place of Malo Gusto.

Manager

L. Rosenior - 8.0: His game plan was executed to perfection in the first half. He set his team up to be clinical and exploit the defensive weaknesses of the opposition. The substitutions were managed well with the game secured. A very satisfying day at the office for the Chelsea boss.

Wolves Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Check out the Wolves Player Ratings from the Wolves vs Chelsea Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

José Sá - 6.0: A difficult day for the keeper. He conceded three goals but could do absolutely nothing about the two penalties. He made a fantastic save to deny Gusto in the first half. He was let down by the defenders in front of him.

Defenders

Matt Doherty - 3.0: A disastrous performance from the captain. Giving away a cheap penalty in the 12th minute set the tone for a terrible first half. It was no surprise to see him hooked at the interval. A day he will want to forget immediately.

Hugo Bueno - 5.0: He struggled against the pace and movement of Chelsea's attackers. An error from him led to a shot and he was dispossessed four times. It was a tough learning experience for the fullback.

Santiago Bueno - 5.5: Part of a backline that was torn apart in the first half. He struggled to handle the movement of João Pedro and never looked comfortable. He improved a little in the second half but the damage was done.

Yerson Mosquera - 4.0: Another defender who made a critical, game-changing error. His clumsy foul for the second penalty was a killer blow. Despite making a number of blocks, that single moment of madness defined his poor performance.

Midfielders

João Gomes - 6.5: One of the few Wolves players to emerge with any credit. He fought hard in midfield, winning all of his duels and using the ball intelligently. He never gave up and showed the kind of spirit his teammates lacked in the first half.

Adam Armstrong - 6.0: Provided the headed assist for the consolation goal which was a nice moment for him. However, he also picked up a booking and was largely anonymous for large parts of the game. A mixed contribution.

Hee-chan Hwang - N/A: His afternoon was cut short by an unfortunate injury before halftime. He didn't have enough time on the pitch to make any real impact on the proceedings.

Mateus Mané - 7.0: Wolves' most dangerous player from our perspective. He was incredibly unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the post. He was a livewire, delivering dangerous crosses and always looking to make something happen. A bright spark on a grim day.

Angel Gomes - 6.5: Put in a decent shift before being substituted. He was tidy in possession and created a couple of decent chances for his teammates. A solid, if unspectacular, effort in a losing cause.

Forwards

Tolu Arokodare - 7.5: He battled hard against the Chelsea defence and deserved his goal. He was a real physical presence, winning four aerial duels and getting his shots away. He never stopped working and was rewarded for his persistence.

Substitutes

Ladislav Krejcí - 5.5: Came on for the injured Hwang but struggled to get into the game.

Rodrigo Gomes - 6.5: An improvement on Doherty after coming on at halftime. Looked more solid.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde - N/A: A late substitute for Angel Gomes.

Manager

R. Edwards - 5.0: His team's fate was sealed by individual errors he could do little about. The switch at halftime helped steady the ship, but his side gave themselves a mountain to climb. He'll be furious with the first-half defensive display.

Man of the Match

Cole Palmer was adjudged as Sportsdunia's man of the match from this game.

Worst Performer

Matt Doherty was the worst performer in the Wolves vs Chelsea game in the EPL.