Chelsea welcome Hull City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday 12 September in their fourth Premier League game of the season. The contest kicks off at 15:00 BST, which is 16:00 in Central Europe and 10:00 on the American East Coast.
Supporters in the UK will not be able to watch the fixture live on television. The clash falls under the long-standing Saturday afternoon blackout, with matches kicking off between 14:45 and 17:15 not shown on domestic broadcast to protect attendances up and down the English football pyramid.
In the United States, audiences can follow proceedings on USA Network, with a concurrent stream available through the broadcaster’s website. The game will be televised on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv platforms to viewers across sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. beIN Sports holds exclusive Premier League rights in the Middle East and North Africa and streams it on TOD and beIN Connect.
Both managers enter the occasion with depleted resources. Xabi Alonso confirmed on Friday that Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson, Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha are all unavailable for selection. Sergej Jakirovic has an even longer absentee list to contend with for the trip to west London. Jack Butland, Charlie Hughes, Darko Gyabi, Eliot Matazo, Hidemasa Morita and Ilyas Ansah are all out, so Oli McBurnie will lead the visiting attack in relative isolation.
What’s at stake for Chelsea and Hull City at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea head into the weekend in fourth on six points, three behind Arsenal and Manchester City. A win would keep them near the top before the next international break halts their domestic momentum.
Hull, remarkably, are third, one place and one point above their hosts. Nothing has gone past the Tigers in three league matches, and another shutout would be a truly unprecedented record for a promoted side.
However, the historical weight of the fixture is on the side of the home team. Chelsea have never lost to Hull in ten Premier League games, winning eight and drawing two. Hull have never won at Stamford Bridge in any competition. Alonso’s men are next in league action next Friday evening as they travel to Brentford.