Madueke netted three goals in a 14-minute span — all of them assisted by Cole Palmer — to spark a 6-2 win over Wolves which, at times, had the same kind of chaotic feel that envelops most things at Chelsea these days.
But the emphatic second-half performance also indicated that Maresca may already be figuring out how to use the wealth of attacking talent at his disposal — and the Blues' triumph overshadowed a more routine 2-0 win for Liverpool against Brentford in new manager Arne Slot's first game at Anfield later on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah celebrates his winner for Arne Slot's Liverpool. (AP PHOTO)
Madueke's hat-trick capped a day where he had already drawn headlines for an Instagram post in which he had said "'this place is s***'" after Chelsea arrived in Wolverhampton.
He later deleted the post and apologised -- but Wolves fans booed him every time they got the chance.
Turns out that may have been a bad idea.
After Chelsea gave up the lead twice in an eventful first half that was highlighted by Palmer's improvised long-range lob for his team's second goal, Madueke made sure there was no way back for Wolves in the second.
His goals all had a similar feel to them, with Palmer picking him out on the right side of the area and Madueke beating goalkeeper Jose Sa with a shot from an angle — the first taking a deflection before sailing inside the far post.
New signing Joao Felix then sealed the rout after sidefooting home a cross from fellow substitute Pedro Neto, the winger who joined from Wolves this month.
Nicolas Jackson had headed home Chelsea's opener in just the second minute, but Matheus Cunha equalised in the 27th.
Palmer then netted a highlight-reel goal with his lob from well outside the area that served as a reminder of why he was voted the league's best young player last season, before Jorgen Strand Larsen pulled Wolves level again deep into first-half injury time.
Afterwards, an apologetic Madueke said: "Obviously it was a mistake, and I'm sure that Wolverhampton is a great town."
He added he wouldn't be posting on Instagram again any time soon.
Meanwhile, the Slot version of Liverpool still looks quite a bit like the Jurgen Klopp model.
Liverpool's goals came from a lightning counter and a clinical finish from Mohamed Salah. All very Klopp-esque.
Slot may not have the German's energetic mannerisms on the touchline, but his team don't seem to have lost any of the intensity they showed under his predecessor.
Luis Diaz gave Liverpool the lead by finishing off a quick counter that Salah started after a Bournemouth corner in the 13th minute before the Egyptian superstar scored his second in two games in the 70th.
In the other early match on Sunday, Bournemouth were denied a late winner by a VAR review and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle.
Dango Ouattara thought he had secured the win with a header in injury time, but it was disallowed for handball.
Bournemouth had led through Marcus Tavernier in the 37th, but Anthony Gordon equalised for Newcastle in the 76th.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola raged: "It was so obvious. I have just seen the video and the fact is it doesn't touch the arm, it is the shoulder, a clear goal and three points for us."
