Hull City vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Hull City can make Premier League history on Saturday evening if they beat Aston Villa at the MKM Stadium.

Sergej Jakirovic’s newly promoted side have won both of their opening matches, and a third victory would make them the first promoted club since Bolton Wanderers in 2001-02 to win their first three top-flight games.

Aston Villa arrive in stark contrast, without a point, a goal, or even a shot on target so far this season, following defeats to Brighton and Arsenal. Unai Emery’s side finished fourth last season and risk becoming the first club to follow a top-four finish with three straight defeats to open the next campaign since Manchester United in 1986-87.

The two clubs have not met since a 2-2 draw in the Championship in January 2019, and both have overhauled their squads heavily over the summer — Hull with 18 new arrivals, Villa with 11, including free transfer Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich and permanent signing Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea.

Hull City vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news

Team news

Hull City

Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Elliot Matazo, Darko Gyabi and Charlie Hughes all remain out through injury, while Matt Crooks is a doubt and will be assessed before kick-off. Joe Gelhardt has returned to training after an ankle injury but is unlikely to start. Deadline-day signings Christos Mouzakitis and Tim Iroegbunam are strong contenders to feature in midfield, while Brooke Norton-Cuffy could challenge Lewie Coyle for a place at right wing-back.

Aston Villa

Joao Gomes is serving the second match of a three-game suspension, while Amadou Onana remains a long-term absentee with an ACL injury and Johan Manzambi and Brian Madjo are also out. New signing Leon Goretzka is available but more likely to feature from the bench than start, having not yet had a full pre-season. Nicolas Jackson is expected to continue leading the line, with fellow new arrivals Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ibrahim Mbaye also in contention for involvement.

Form

Hull City

Hull have made a remarkable start to their return to the top flight, beating Manchester United 2-0 before winning 1-0 at Coventry City, and go into Saturday on a seven-match unbeaten run at home. Jakirovic could become just the fourth manager to win each of his first three Premier League matches with a clean sheet, following Jose Mourinho, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Arne Slot.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have lost both of their opening fixtures without registering a single shot on target, beaten 4-0 at Brighton before a narrower 1-0 home defeat to champions Arsenal. The absence of key departures from last season’s top-four campaign, including Ollie Watkins, has been keenly felt, and Emery is still working to integrate a heavily rebuilt squad.

Predicted lineups

Hull City predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Tzolakis; Ajayi, Egan, Mendy; Coyle, Slater, Iroegbunam, Giles; Belloumi, Stroud; McBurnie

Aston Villa predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Ruggeri; Kamara, Goretzka; McGinn, Buendia, Mbaye; Jackson

How to watch Hull City vs Aston Villa?

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage beginning before the 5:30pm kick-off.

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