Chelsea face high flying Hull City at the Bridge
Xabi Alonso looks to bounce back from defeat against Arsenal
The Blues took the lead against Arsenal after just two minutes thanks to a Morgan Rogers volley which silenced the home crowd.
Chelsea failed to build on that early opener, however, as Mikel Arteta’s men eventually prevailed 2-1 to make it three wins from three in the Premier League.
It was Xabi Alonso’s biggest test and while his side demonstrated moments of brilliance against the champions, it wasn’t enough.
Against Leeds in the EFL Cup in midweek, a much changed Chelsea side trailed 2-0 after 48 minutes, but somehow pulled a 6-3 win out of the bag.
One thing is for certain, Alonso’s reign is unlikely to be boring. Although the team have looked superb going forward, the defence must improve if trophies are to be won this season.
A tally of 16 goals proves Chelsea have been clinical in the final third, yet 10 goals conceded in just five games suggests there is work to be done.
Hull continue to be the early surprise package of the season
Even the most passionate Hull supporter wouldn’t have imagined the Tigers sitting third in the Premier League after three games, going unbeaten in the process.
The 2-0 victory over Manchester United to open the league campaign has been the catalyst for their superb run.
Indeed, Hull are the only top flight club to have kept a clean sheet across their opening three matches.
Will the bubble burst? More than likely, but confidence is at an all-time high right now. The trip to Stamford Bridge is going to be a tough test, yet Sergej Jakirović’s men will could thrive as the underdogs.
Team news
Jordan Henderson and Marco Palestra are definite absentees for Alonso due to injury, while Moisés Caicedo is a doubt for the game.
The likes of João Pedro, Cole Palmer and Roméo Lavia will likely return to the starting XI after being dropped to the bench in midweek.
Jakirović will be missing Charlie Hughes, Jack Butland, Darko Gyabi and Oscar Zambrano for this clash against the Blues on Saturday.
Prediction
Alonso will have been disappointed at failing to secure at least a point against Arsenal last time out, but this clash against Hull represents a chance to bounce back.
The Blues have won their previous nine fixtures against the Tigers dating back to February 2010 and a win on Saturday will keep them within touching distance of the summit.
For Hull, the pressure is off following a solid start to the season and nobody will expect them to get anything at Stamford Bridge.
This is perhaps when the away side could be at their most dangerous, especially with how many goals Chelsea have shipped already this season.
Expect Chelsea to secure all three points, but it will be tighter than many expect: Chelsea 3-1 Hull.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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