Hull City host Aston Villa at Kingston Communications Stadium on Saturday, September 5 (12:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM CT / 9:30 AM PT).
Hull City will be without the injured Jack Butland, Darko Gyabi, Charlie Hughes, Oscar Zambrano, Eliot Matazo and Matt Crooks, while Joe Gelhardt and Matty Jacob are doubts. Even so, the attacking group that has carried the team so far — goalscorers Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Nobel Mendy and Liam Millar, playmaker Regan Slater and target man Oliver McBurnie — should still be able to feature. Aston Villa have their own list of concerns: the suspended Joao Gomes, the injured Amadou Onana, Johan Manzambi, Brian Madjo and Leon Bailey are all missing, with Tammy Abraham a doubt, leaving Ross Barkley, Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash among the senior men Villa are leaning on.
Hull City have made the ideal start, taking six points from their opening two matches without conceding more than once in either game, while Aston Villa opened with a chastening four-nil defeat at Brighton and sit on zero points from their sole outing. This has the makings of a tight, low-scoring afternoon: Hull have not needed more than two goals to win either match so far, and Villa’s front line, shorn of Leon Bailey and Joao Gomes, are still searching for their first goal of the campaign. Expect a scrappy, cagey contest settled by a single moment rather than an end-to-end shootout.
Hull City vs Aston Villa: Best Bets & Predictions
Hull City are perfect through two matches, while Aston Villa are still searching for their first point.
Our approach: we weigh confirmed team news and each side's actual results this season before letting the model's scoreline projection guide the picks, rather than leaning on reputation.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration; your local odds may vary. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
Hull City have made a perfect start to the season, winning both of their opening two matches for six points and a plus-three goal difference. Aston Villa, by contrast, have taken zero points from their one match played, sitting on a minus-four goal difference after an opening defeat.
Premier League
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull City | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | +3 | 6 | |||
| Aston Villa | 17 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -4 |
Hull City vs Aston Villa Predicted Lineups
Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.
Hull City
5-4-1Aston Villa
4-2-3-1Potential Match-Winners
- Nobel Mendy (Hull City): Nobel Mendy has scored once already this season, with both of his shots on target so far — a sign he is making the most of his early chances.
- Oliver McBurnie (Hull City): Oliver McBurnie has played every minute available, creating three chances and putting both of his shots on target — proof he is Hull’s most involved outlet without yet finding the net himself.
- Ross Barkley (Aston Villa): Ross Barkley created 2 chances in his 74 minutes on the pitch, evidence that Villa’s spark going forward often starts with him.
Recent Form
Hull City: W W
- 2026-08-29: Coventry City 0-1 Hull City (W, away)
- 2026-08-22: Hull City 2-0 Manchester United (W, home)
Hull City have won back-to-back matches, beating Manchester United 2-0 at home before following up with a 1-0 win away at Coventry City.
Aston Villa: L L D W L
- 2026-08-23: Brighton 4-0 Aston Villa (L, away)
- 2026-05-15: Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool (W, home)
- 2026-05-10: Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa (D, away)
- 2026-05-03: Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham (L, home)
- 2026-04-25: Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa (L, away)
Aston Villa’s only match of the new season ended in a 4-0 defeat at Brighton. That followed a mixed finish to last season featuring a 4-2 win over Liverpool, a 2-2 draw at Burnley, and defeats to Tottenham and Fulham.
Hull City vs Aston Villa Prediction
This looks set to be tight and low on chances rather than an afternoon of end-to-end football. Hull City’s defence has not been breached more than once in either match so far, and with Aston Villa’s attack still goalless this season and further weakened by the absences up front, clean sheets look more likely than goals at either end. We’re calling it 1-0 to Hull City.