Chelsea duo Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer ruled out of Crystal Palace match

During only the second Premier League match to be played on Christmas Eve, Mauricio Pochettino's men lost 2-1 to Wolves at Molineux, with Mario Lemina opening the scoring for the hosts.

Former Tottenham Hotspur man Matt Doherty doubled Wolves' advantage in stoppage time, before summer arrival Christopher Nkunku scored his first Premier League goal in the dying stages to reduce the arrears.

Despite the Frenchman's maiden goal in English football, the Blues were condemned to their eighth loss of the league term, meaning that they will spend Christmas Day sat in 10th place.

As is expected with the busy festive schedule, Pochettino's men will not have to wait long for the opportunity to put their defeat in the West Midlands right, with Crystal Palace visiting Stamford Bridge on December 27.

However, the West Londoners will have to respond to their Christmas Eve disappointment without ex-Manchester City duo Sterling and Palmer against the Eagles.

Palmer picked up his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season after kicking the ball away following the awarding of a Wolves free kick.

Sterling's caution was a lot more controversial, with the winger being booked for what referee David Coote judged to be simulation as the Blues searched for an equaliser late on.

With Pochettino's attacking options limited for the clash against Palace, the likes of goalscorer Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk could earn starting berths on Wednesday.

Chelsea may be able to welcome back the services of midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the Argentine missing the Molineux defeat due to a hernia.

Summer signing Moises Caicedo was also absent from the West Londoners' matchday squad because of illness, although the Ecuadorian should be fit to face Roy Hodgson's side.

With Reece James out of action due to a hamstring strain, fellow academy graduate Conor Gallagher was Chelsea's Christmas Eve captain, partnering Lesley Ugochukwu in the visitors' engine room.

Sterling and Palmer have netted 11 goals combined so far in the Premier League, meaning that Pochettino will need to find attacking solutions ahead of Wednesday's match with Palace.