Wolves v Chelsea player ratings: Lemina 9, Dawson 8; Jackson 4, Nkunku 7

Wolves secure 2-1 Premier League victory at Molineux as Pochettino bemoans Chelsea's profligacy

Jose Sa 6/10

WOLVES RATINGS: Came up with a vital save from Sterling when he was faced by three blue shirts in the 33rd minute, although the Chelsea's attacker's finish was poor. Made several routine stops in the Show more

Max Kilman 7/10

Reacted well to a clipped pass from Palmer to send Jackson through on goal and stopped the striker before he could bring the ball under control. Made an important interception to stop Nkunku from gettShow more

Craig Dawson 7/10

Proved a handful at both ends of the pitch for the home side. Vital last-ditch interception to stop Sterling’s shot from troubling Sa in the 64th minute. Subbed off with an injury in the second half. Show more

Toti Gomes 7/10

Allowed Gusto to get on the wrong side of him too easily to put in a cross early in the game. Should have scored when he got on the end of Hwang’s cross at the back-post but directed a header straightShow more

Nelson Semedo 6/10

Involved in a terrible mix-up with Kilman that sent Jackson through on goal. Struggled against the pace of Sterling in the first half but dealt well with the threat of Mudryk in the second. Getty ImagShow more

FBL-ENG-PR-WOLVES-CHELSEA

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Gabonese midfielder #05 Mario Lemina celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea Show more

Joao Gomes 7/10

Easily muscled off the ball by Sterling to gift the Blues a three-on-one advantage against Sa in first half. Recovered from his early error and worked his socks off after break. Reuters

Rayan Ait-Nouri 6/10

A constant presence in the final third due in his wing-back role, causing Chelsea problems and was involved in the second goal.PA

Hwang Hee-chan 6/10

Tried to redirect Lemina’s effort at goal but a poor first touch made his job difficult. Presented with a good chance on the stroke of half-time, but he rushed his shot and failed to keep it on targetShow more

Pablo Sarabia 7/10

Lost possession in a dangerous position, which gave Sterling a chance to run at the visitors' defence in first half. Brilliant outside-of-the-boot pass to play Hwang through on goal just before break.Show more

Matheus Cunha 5/10

Struggled to make impact. Tried to catch Petrovic out at his near post with a quarter of the game left to play, but could only find the side netting. PA

Santiago Bueno 6/10

SUBS: (On for Dawson 70') Made several clearances but was caught out of position for Nkunku’s goal. PA

Tommy Doyle 6

(On for Sarabia 75') Had cross-shot that failed to trouble Petrovic minutes after coming on. Stung keeper's palm with a good effort from range with nine minutes left to play. PA

Matt Doherty N/A

(On for Cunha 86') Put the home side two goals in front with a side-footed finish into the bottom corner, sending Petrovic the wrong way. AFP

Hugo Bueno N/A

(On for Ait-Nouri 87') Played a part in second goal as his cut-back was deflected into the path of Doherty to score. Getty Images

Djordje Petrovic 6/10

CHELSEA RATINGS: Stepped off his line to make an important clearance ahead of Semedo in the 37th minute. Forced into a good savefrom Doyle with nine minutes of normal time remaining. AP

Malo Gusto 6/10

Whipped in a precise cross, which Broja failed to take advantage of early in the game. His defensive mistake almost proved costly for the Blues in the 74th minute. AFP

Axel Disasi 5/10

Made an important block to deny Sarabia in the second half. Inexplicably allowed the ball to roll under his legs and almost cost his side a goal in the second half. Getty Images

Thiago Silva 5/10

Made a vital block to deny Sarabia just before half-time. Lost concentration on the ball in a dangerous area just after the restart and almost gifted the home side a goal. PA

Levi Colwill 6/10

Lucky to escape being penalized for a tug on Hwang’s shirt in the penalty area. Solid in defence but offered next to nothing going forward. Reuters

Lesley Ugochukwu 5/10

Lost track of Lemina and failed to contest in the build-up to the home side’s opener. Worked hard at the base of midfield but still looks rusty. AP

Conor Gallagher 5/10

Presented with a half chance at the edge of the penalty area, but he could only fire his shot into the body of Kilman. Guilty of making one too many wrong passes. PA

Cole Palmer 6/10

Lovely clipped pass over the Wolves' defence to put Jackson through on goal, but the striker failed to bring the ball under control. Tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area with seconds of thShow more

Nicolas Jackson 4/10

Took too long to decide on what to do when he was played in behind the Wolves backline early in the game. Inexplicably failed to bring the ball under his control when he was played through on goal by Show more

Raheem Sterling 6/10

Played an inch-perfect pass over the head of the Wolves defence for Jackson to run onto, but the Senegalese failed to take advantage. Chose the wrong option of going solo when through on goal instead Show more

Armando Broja 4/10

Had a very good chance to open the scoring at the beginning of game but took one touch too many before trying to get a shot away. Failed to make the right connection with the ball when he got on the eShow more

Christopher Nkunku 7/10

SUBS: (On for Ugochukwu 58') Went close to making an instant impact, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance. Pulled one back for the visitors via a free header at the near post. PA

Mykhailo Mudryk 5/10

(On for Broja 59') Found it tough to get past Semedo on the left and was often a frustrated figure. EPA

Ian Maatsen N/A

(On for Colwill 79') Turned too easily by Hwang at the near post late in the game. AP

Noni Madueke N/A

(On forJackson 80') Put in a brilliant cross into the penalty area for Nkunku, but the cross was cut-out by Kilman. Smashed in another dangerous cross that caused problems in the Wolves penalty area. Show more

Benoit Badiashile N/A

(On for Gusto 80') His woeful clearance fell into the path for Doherty to score the second goal. AFP

Wolves condemned Chelsea to a fourth defeat in six league matches on Sunday, winning 2-1 in the first Christmas Eve Premier League match since 1995.

Mauricio Pochettino's men dominated possession at Molineux but wasted chances in an incident-packed game littered with careless defensive errors by the visiting side.

Wolves appeared to be cantering to victory after goals from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty but they were made to sweat when Christopher Nkunku pulled one back deep into stoppage time on his Premier League debut.

The defeat means Chelsea are stuck in 10th in the Premier League, with Wolves behind them only on goal difference.

No side have lost more Premier League matches in 2023 than Chelsea's tally of 19, while only three sides have lost more across the big five European leagues during the calendar year.

Pochettino bemoaned his team's missed chances after a frustrating afternoon.

“We feel very disappointed because I think we deserve much more,” the Argentine told Sky Sports. “This competition wounds you when you are not clinical enough.

“We created chances. That is why it is so disappointing. We conceded after a few corners and it was really difficult.”

You can see the player ratings from Sunday's game in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo. click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.