English Premier
2026-09-12 - Chelsea vs Hull City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 12th September 2026 - Kick Off 3pm
Chelsea
If the early signs are anything to go by, it is going to be a huge entertaining season for Chelsea fans even after missing out on all European competition. Xabi Alonso is not going to be foolish enough to think his team do not need to improve defensively have continued to concede goals at an alarming rate, but Chelsea have really impressed in the final third having added Morgan Rogers alongside Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.
Both sides of Chelsea were seen on Wednesday night- they conceded three goals to Leeds United in the League Cup, but a second half storm saw The Blues score six times to progress to the Fourth Round. The side have also picked up 6 points from the opening fixtures in the Premier League, although Chelsea's unbeaten run was ended in the 2-1 defeat at Champions Arsenal last Sunday.
Chelsea have played 5 games under Xabi Alonso and won 4 of those, but they have also conceded at least twice in 4 of the 5 games played and that cannot be a sustainable approach towards success. The Blues earned a clean sheet in beating League One Luton Town in the League Cup Second Round, but Chelsea have since won games against Brighton and Leeds United in which they have conceded three goals in both.
Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo are both doubtful and the manager may choose to give them a few more days of recovery. Jordan Henderson could return next weekend, but is not expected to be involved on Saturday.
Hull City
If you were taking bets on the last team to concede a goal in the 2026/27 Premier League, the biggest outsiders would have been the pre-season favourites to finish bottom of the pile. Sergej Jakirovic has already helped Hull City overachieve by merely reaching the Premier League at the end of last season, but he has given the fans so much hope of consolidating at this level after the start made to this campaign.
Not only have Hull City picked up 7 points from the first three Premier League games, but they have done so with clean sheets in all of those played. The fixture list cannot have been described as kind seeing as Hull City have earned 4 of those points against Champions League participants, while The Tigers won the opening away Premier League fixture at Coventry City.
Hull City were beaten in the League Cup Third Round at Sunderland during the week, but the Premier League is the clear priority for all at the club and the team picked underlined that statement. They were held to a goalless draw by Aston Villa last weekend, which will be seen as a point gained, and Hull City had been unbeaten in 3 away games in all competitions before losing at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.
Hidemasa Morita could return next weekend, but this fixture feels too soon. The likes of Timothy Iroegbunam, Paddy McNair and Brooke Norton-Cuffy are hoping to be passed fit to join the squad in travelling to West London.
Head to Head
These teams met in the FA Cup last season and Hull City were thumped 0-4 at home.
Chelsea have won 5 home games in a row against Hull City, but have not hosted them since a FA Cup tie in February 2018.
Prediction
The promoted teams that have been most successful in recent Premier League campaigns have had to make positive starts to the season and that has given the squad confidence and belief to compete at a higher level.
Not many have made stronger starts than Hull City who have 7 points on the board from the 9 available and this is the latest club to come through the Play Off and surprise so many.
There is still a lot of work to do if The Tigers are going to beat pre-season expectations and secure another season in the top flight. They will take heart from the early defensive outcomes, although Hull City will not be able to offer up the kind of chances they have in the first three League games and expect clean sheets to be racked up.
A wasteful Aston Villa missed out last week and the same can be said for Coventry City, but it is incredibly unlikely to be poor finishing that helps Hull City to a clean sheet this weekend.
Instead they are going to have to find a way to contain Chelsea much better than they have the first three opponents faced.
Giving up the same quality of chances to Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro will lead to goals being conceded and this looks a huge test for the newly promoted club.
Xabi Alonso has already had a big impact in his time with Chelsea, but he will want to see the team tighten up defensively and will be keen to have Moises Caicedo back as soon as possible. There has been little wrong with what Chelsea have been doing in the final third and that gives them a big edge in this match as they look to bounce back from the 2-1 loss at Arsenal.
During the week, Chelsea thumped in six goals against Leeds United and The Blues should have too much for Hull City on Saturday.
The away team have brought in players to improve defensively, but Hull City did concede four goals in a FA Cup loss to a much changed Chelsea team in February. This time it is the first choice attackers who will be leading the line at Stamford Bridge and the feeling is that Hull City may be beaten pretty comfortably as they face a team that is in very confident mood in the final third.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Chelsea 3-0 Hull City
