Hull City vs Chelsea: Preview and Prediction

Chelsea will aim to secure a spot in the FA Cup fifth round when they take on Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Friday.

The 2025/26 FA Cup will resume this week with the fourth round. The latest phase begins on Friday with two simultaneous games, including Hull City vs Chelsea at the MKM Stadium, which presents an opportunity for another trademark “Magic of the Cup” moment.

Hull City entered the 2025/26 FA Cup in the third round and qualified for the latest phase with a penalty shootout victory over Blackburn Rovers after the two teams played a goalless stalemate. However, the Tigers have not started February well, as they have failed to win their two games thus far, thus suffering a setback in the bid to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

On the other hand, Chelsea cruised to a 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round to set up the latest clash with Hull City. The Blues have been impressive since Liam Rosenior has taken over as the head coach, failing to win only three of their ten games under the English tactician. However, the visitors come into Friday’s clash on the back of a frustrating 2-2 draw with Leeds United.

The most recent clash featuring Hull City and Chelsea also came in the FA Cup fourth round, with the West London club clinching a 2-0 win thanks to goals by Michy Batshuayi and Fikayo Tomori. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Hull City

Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Pandur; McNair, Egan, Hughes; Coyle, Slater, Lundstram, Giles; Gelhardt; Joseph, McBurnie

Chelsea

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Delap

Key Stats

• Hull City have won one of their last 35 games vs Chelsea in all competitions (D8 L26), a 3-0 win in October 1988 under Eddie Gray. They have lost their eight most recent games against the Blues.
• Chelsea have progressed from all eight FA Cup ties with Hull City. It is the joint best 100% progress rate by a team against another in FA Cup history, along with Leicester City against Birmingham City.
• Hull City are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2017/18. However, the Tigers have been eliminated in their last 16 ties against top-flight teams while playing outside the top-flight themselves, since a 1-0 win against West Ham in 1972/73.
• Chelsea have progressed from 62 of their last 64 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League, although both defeats in this run have been against Yorkshire teams: 1-0 vs Barnsley in 2007/08 and 4-2 vs Bradford City in 2014/15.
• Enzo Fernandez has been involved in five goals in seven FA Cup appearances for Chelsea (G3 A2), while he has four goals and two assists in eight domestic cup appearances against sides from a lower division.

Player to Watch

Liam Delap

Prediction

Hull City 1-3 Chelsea