PREVIEW: Chelsea face a different test against Hull’s low-block specialists | OneFootball

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to respond to last weekend’s defeat at Arsenal, but Hull City will offer a very different kind of test.

Xabi Alonso’s side have scored eight goals in their opening three Premier League games and followed that with a 6-3 League Cup win over Leeds in midweek. Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and João Pedro have already become the main attacking reference points, while Chelsea have scored inside the opening five minutes in all three of their league matches.

Hull, though, have built their impressive start in almost the opposite way.

Sergej Jakirović’s newly-promoted side have taken seven points from games against Manchester United, Coventry and Aston Villa without conceding a goal. They remain the only Premier League team yet to be breached this season.

The clean sheets do not mean Hull have dominated games. They had just 26.5% possession against Villa and have regularly been happy to defend in a compact 5-4-1, give the opposition the ball and wait for opportunities to counter. Goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis has already played more passes into the opposition half than any other Hull player, which says plenty about their willingness to go direct.

That makes this a new challenge for Chelsea. Their most dangerous moments so far have often come when games become open and Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro can attack space quickly. Hull are unlikely to offer them as much of it.

Oli McBurnie will be central to the visitors’ approach. The striker has won a team-high 29 duels and leads the entire Premier League with 258 high-intensity pressures. His ability to compete for direct balls and bring midfield runners into play gives Hull a route around Chelsea’s press.

Alonso highlighted exactly that threat in his pre-match press conference, pointing to Hull’s transitions and set-pieces and insisting there would be no complacency after their unbeaten start.

Chelsea will again be without Moisés Caicedo, who has not recovered sufficiently from his calf problem. Romeo Lavia is available after sitting out the Leeds game, while Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha remain unavailable.

Caicedo’s absence could matter more here than it first appears. Chelsea are likely to spend long periods around Hull’s box, but every lost ball will create a second-ball battle against McBurnie and a side comfortable attacking directly.

Hull’s defensive record has been excellent, but they have still allowed opponents to reach dangerous areas. Chelsea therefore need patience more than chaos on Saturday.

For Alonso’s side, the question is simple: can one of the league’s most explosive attacks break down an opponent that has no interest in making the game open?