Hull City vs Chelsea preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

• Over 2.5 goals

• Chelsea to win

Fewer than two years have passed since Liam Rosenior was let go by Hull City in May 2024, after spending five years as a player with the Tigers before returning as head coach in 2022.

He narrowly missed out on guiding them to the Championship play-offs in the 2023/24 season before being sacked.

Nevertheless, he will be seeking a positive outcome on his return to his old club as the Blues aim to avoid another exit at this stage after last year’s defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion.

His squad will also be looking to bounce back against weaker opposition after the 2-2 draw against Leeds United.

Despite the league setback, though, Rosenior’s time in charge of the Blues has, for the most part, been encouraging, albeit with a few doubts about their performances.

The young coach has surpassed expectations and secured seven wins from 10 matches across all competitions heading into their FA Cup tie.

The Londoners also travel to the MKM with last year’s failure at this stage likely lingering at the back of their minds, where they lost 2-1 to Brighton at the Amex. 

Since reaching three consecutive finals between 2020 and 2022, Chelsea have been eliminated in the third and fourth rounds by Manchester City and Brighton respectively, either side of advancing to the last four in the 2023-24 season. A similar run to 2024 would undeniably please the club’s supporters.

First, they must avoid consecutive exits at this stage, as Rosenior aims to leave his old stomping ground with a victory to continue his fine start to life with the capital club.

Sergej Jakirovic's team enter Friday’s FA Cup tie on an eight-match losing run against Chelsea, including consecutive domestic cup exits to the capital club in February 2018 and January 2020. 

Semi Ajayi has not played for Hull City since representing Nigeria at AFCON 2025 due to a hamstring injury, while Mohamed Belloumi (hamstring), Cody Drameh (thigh), Darko Gyabi (groin), Matts Crooks (hamstring) and long-term absentee Eliot Matazo (knee) are sidelined.

Chelsea also have a few injury doubts of their own: Marc Cucurella (hamstring) was withdrawn at the interval against Leeds on Tuesday and could now join Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo and Jamie Gittens (thigh) on the treatment table.

With Rosenior likely to rotate after Tuesday’s league game, Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Jorrel Hato, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana could feature.

Mamadou Sarr could also make his second competitive Blues appearance since the Club World Cup group stage match against Esperance.

Hull City: Pandur; McNair, Egan, Hughes; Coyle, Slater, Lundstram, Giles; Gelhardt; Joseph, McBurnie

Chelsea: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Delap

Hull City will attempt to frustrate their Premier League opponents, but Chelsea’s recent form and superior depth give them the edge. The visitors also hold a strong recent record in this fixture. Bar any surprising upsets, all signs point to a dominant Chelsea win.

Correct score prediction: Hull City 0-3 Chelsea