Chelsea are favourites to beat Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon in week four of the Premier League. Bookmakers have Xabi Alonso’s side priced at around 1.25 for the win, with the draw around 7.20 and a Hull success quoted at around 13.50.
This match-up pits the division’s most prolific attack against the division’s most potent defence. Chelsea have found the net eight times in the league but have shipped seven, while the Tigers have kept three clean sheets in as many games.
Chelsea’s current form is still clearly productive, but not controlled. The Blues have won four of their last five games in all competitions, beating Fulham 3-2, Luton Town 2-0, Brighton 4-3 and Leeds United 6-3 either side of the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. That sequence has delivered plenty of entertainment, but also a continuing lack of defensive stability.
Hull, however, have started to falter a little after an amazing opening two months. Jakirovic’s side failed to register a single goal in a stalemate with Aston Villa after wins over Manchester United and Coventry City. Then they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Sunderland, with just one shot on target.
Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in their last 19 league games, so both teams to score looks attractive at around 1.95. Cole Palmer is quoted around 2.10 to score at any time, having racked up fifteen goal involvements in fifteen Premier League appearances against promoted opposition.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Hull City.
Chelsea Vs Hull City Head-To-Head Record
The history book between these clubs is emphatically weighted in favour of the home side. Chelsea have never been beaten by Hull in 10 Premier League meetings, winning eight and drawing twice.
From a Humberside point of view, the visitors’ record in west London is equally dispiriting. Hull have a poor record at Stamford Bridge, losing 18 and drawing five of their 23 competitive visits to the west London ground.
The two sides last met in the league in January 2017, when Diego Costa and Gary Cahill sealed a 2-0 home win as Chelsea went on to win the league. It will be Hull’s first Premier League assignment at the stadium for nearly ten years.