Chelsea secured their first Premier League win under manager Enzo Maresca with a thrilling 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton on Sunday. The match was highlighted by Noni Madueke's second-half hat trick, which came in response to the boos he received from the home crowd due to a controversial social media post about Wolverhampton.
Madueke's three goals, all assisted by Cole Palmer, were instrumental in Chelsea's dominant performance in the second half. The young forward showcased his attacking prowess and helped Chelsea assert their dominance over Wolves.
The chaotic nature of the game reflected the current state of affairs at Chelsea, but it also hinted at Maresca's ability to harness the team's attacking talent effectively. The partnership between Madueke and Palmer proved to be lethal, with the latter providing pinpoint assists for all three of Madueke's goals.
Despite drawing negative attention for his social media post, Madueke let his performance on the field do the talking. His goals, all expertly taken from the right side of the area, left Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa helpless and sealed the win for Chelsea.
The match also saw new signing Joao Felix get on the scoresheet, further solidifying Chelsea's attacking threat. The victory was a statement of intent from Chelsea and a sign that Maresca is beginning to make his mark on the team.
Following the game, Madueke issued an apology to Wolverhampton residents and expressed a newfound appreciation for the city. He acknowledged his mistake and indicated that he would be more cautious with his social media usage in the future.
In another match on Sunday, Bournemouth was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle after a late VAR decision disallowed a potential winning goal. Despite taking the lead through Marcus Tavernier, Bournemouth was unable to secure the victory as Newcastle equalized through Anthony Gordon.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot made his home debut at Anfield later on Sunday against Brentford, marking an important moment in the club's season.