Hull City vs Chelsea: Preview & Prediction

Antonio Conte takes his Chelsea side to the East Coast on Saturday afternoon Premier League encounter at the KCOM Stadium.

Both sides are currently enduring poor recent top-flight form leading up to the fixture in Humberside, so a win for either outfit could provide a sign of better things to come in the future.

Hull, who remain under the stewardship of caretaker manager Mike Phelan, have slumped to two successive defeats in the league, conceding nine goals in the process.

Last week, the Tigers suffered a heavy defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, losing 5-1 to Jurgen Klopp’s men, subsequently dropping down to 14th position.

Elsewhere, Phelan is still waiting to finalise a permanent contract to fully succeed Steve Bruce on Humberside, following the latter’s resignation back in July.

Chelsea, without a league win since late August, have looked a far cry from the team that started the campaign in such an impressive way, enjoying a 100% winning start in their first three games.

Like their opponents on Saturday, the West Londoners have tasted defeat in two straight fixtures, the last of which being a 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Goals in the first-half from Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil made it a miserable Saturday evening north of the River Thames for Conte’s Blues, who are now eighth in the league after six games.

Chelsea came out on top in the last Premier League game at the KCOM Stadium in March 2015, claiming a 3-2 win courtesy of efforts from Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Loic Remy, in their title-winning term.

Tigers caretaker boss, Phelan – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Team News:

Hull’s injury crisis continues as Allan McGregor, Alex Bruce, Michael Dawson and Moses Odubajo remain the only long-term absentees from Phelan’s squad.

Fresh from the London derby defeat, Chelsea have no fresh concerns, other than the defensive duo of John Terry (ankle) and Kurt Zouma (knee) to contend with.

League Positions: Hull City – 14th (7pts); Chelsea – 8th (10pts)
Last Meeting: Hull City 2-3 Chelsea – (March 22, 2015)
League Form: Hull City – WWLDLL; Chelsea – WWWDLL
Key Men: Hull City – Robert Snodgrass; Chelsea – Diego Costa
Shoot Says: Hull City 0-2 Chelsea