Chelsea head to the MKM Stadium to face Hull City in a contest defined by a stark contrast in recent fortunes.
The Londoners have swept aside Hull in their last three meetings, racking up eight goals to the Tigers’ one. As the two sides prepare for this FA Cup encounter, Chelsea’s attacking swagger meets Hull’s defensive grit—setting the stage for a fascinating tactical battle and a test of whether Hull can finally flip the script on home soil.
Best Bets & Predictions
Based on Chelsea’s dominant head-to-head record and attacking firepower, we’re particularly confident in backing the away win here. Hull’s defensive resilience has delivered clean sheets, but they’ve struggled badly in front of goal—a trend that looks likely to continue against a Chelsea side brimming with confidence.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Palmer And Joao Pedro Both To Score | 7/2 @ Betway (22.2%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Considering Chelsea’s free-scoring form, with five goals in the previous FA Cup round, backing their top scorers against a Championship side is a strong proposition. João Pedro, the club’s leading marksman with 13 goals, and Cole Palmer, with nine goals himself, will likely lead the line and should find plenty of opportunities. |
| Chelsea To Score Over 1.5 1st Half Goals | 9/4 @ BOYLE Sports (30.8%) | ⭐⭐ | Under new manager Liam Rosenior, Chelsea will be keen to assert their authority early against Championship opposition. They scored five against Charlton in the last round and possess the attacking quality to overwhelm Hull’s defence from the start. Expect the Blues to come out firing and look to kill the tie off early. |
Odds correct at the time of writing.
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Hull vs Chelsea match odds
How both teams head into Hull vs Chelsea
Hull City’s 2025/26 FA Cup journey has been a dramatic, if brief, affair so far. The Tigers entered the competition in the third round, where they were drawn at home to fellow Championship side Blackburn Rovers . The match was a tense and goalless affair, even after extra time. The deadlock was finally broken in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Dillon Phillips emerging as the hero after saving Blackburn’s first two spot-kicks. David Akintola coolly converted the winning penalty to send Hull through 4-3 .
Their reward is a glamour home tie against Premier League giants Chelsea in the fourth round, a match made even more intriguing by the return of former Hull manager Liam Rosenior to the MKM Stadium as the opposition’s boss.
Chelsea’s 2025/26 FA Cup campaign began in earnest under new management, with Liam Rosenior’s first game in charge seeing the Blues travel to Charlton Athletic in the third round. It was a successful debut for the new boss, as Chelsea comfortably dispatched their London rivals with a resounding 5-1 victory. The win set up an intriguing fourth-round tie away to Championship side Hull City, a club Rosenior formerly managed.
Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, Chelsea are still competing on four fronts and will be looking to add to their eight previous FA Cup triumphs. Fans will be hoping their team can avoid an upset against a Hull side that has proven to be resilient in the cup this season.
Hull team news
Hull City could be boosted by the return of right-back Cody Drameh, who is in line to feature after a nine-game absence with a quad injury. However, the Tigers will be without the influential Matt Crooks and Rúben Vinagre. Manager Sergej Jakirović has hinted at rotating his squad for the visit of Chelsea, with several key players carrying knocks and in need of a rest.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea face a quick turnaround and a growing injury list ahead of their FA Cup tie at Hull. Marc Cucurella is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring injury against Leeds, joining a lengthy absentee list that includes Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens, and Romeo Lavia. However, Tosin Adarabioyo could return to the squad after a hamstring issue, while captain Reece James may also be available after illness
Season Form & Standings
Chelsea come into this match having scored five goals in their last FA Cup fixture, while Hull City are yet to find the net but have kept one clean sheet, beating Blackburn on penalties in the last round. With Chelsea’s average possession at 73.5% and Hull City holding 55.1%, the stats underline a significant technical gap, especially in passing accuracy—Chelsea at an elite 91.53% against Hull’s 73.01%.
Head-to-Head: Last 3 Meetings
Chelsea have dominated the last three encounters with Hull City, winning each time and outscoring the Tigers eight goals to one.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 25/01/20 | Hull City 1-2 Chelsea | FA Cup |
| 16/02/18 | Chelsea 4-0 Hull City | FA Cup |
| 22/01/17 | Chelsea 2-0 Hull City | Premier League |
Conclusion: Will Chelsea’s Quality Prevail?
Hull City have shown defensive resolve but continue to struggle in the final third, while Chelsea’s attacking statistics are among the best in the league, even if their finishing sometimes flatters to deceive. Given the visitors’ perfect record in recent head-to-heads and their total dominance in key attacking metrics, it’s hard to look past Chelsea but for value it might be worth backing Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro to both score at 7/2 (22.2%) with Betway.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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