Hull vs Chelsea

The magic of the FA Cup takes center stage in East Yorkshire this Friday, February 13, 2026, as Hull City hosts Chelsea in a highly anticipated Fourth Round tie. Kick-off at the MKM Stadium is set for 19:45 GMT.

The night is headlined by a massive narrative: Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior returns to the club where he spent five years as a player and nearly two years as head coach. Since taking the Chelsea job on January 8, Rosenior has completely revitalized the Blues, but standing in his way is a Hull side currently fighting for promotion to the Premier League.

Match Information

Hull City: Seeking the Ultimate Upset

Under Croatian head coach Sergej Jakirović, the Tigers have become one of the Championship's most exciting sides. Although they are coming off a narrow 3–2 home defeat to Bristol City, their form at the MKM has generally been strong. After navigating a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Blackburn in the Third Round, Hull will view this as a "free hit" against one of the world's most expensive squads.

Team News and Selection:

• The Goal Machine: Oli McBurnie is the man to watch, having netted 12 goals this season, including a stunning strike in his last outing.

• Injury Woes: Jakirović is missing several key players, including Mohamed Belloumi, Cody Drameh, and Darko Gyabi.

• Tactical Approach: Expect Jakirović to utilize the pace of Liam Millar and the physicality of McBurnie to disrupt Chelsea's rhythm.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pandur; Coyle, Egan, Hughes, Giles; Slater, Hadžiahmetović; Gelhardt, Millar, Joseph; McBurnie.

Chelsea: The Rosenior Revolution

Chelsea is currently the form team in England. Under Liam Rosenior, the Blues have won 7 of their last 9 matches, including a recent 3–1 away win at Wolves where Cole Palmer scored a sensational hat-trick. Rosenior has introduced a high-possession, "free-playing" style that has quickly won over the dressing room and supporters alike.

Team News and Selection:

• Palmer's Fitness: Cole Palmer is back at full fitness and is expected to start. He has thrived under the new management, recently praising Rosenior for giving the squad "confidence and freedom."

• Squad Rotation: With a heavy Premier League schedule, Rosenior may hand starts to January returnees like Mamadou Sarr or Aaron Anselmino.

• Key Absences: Chelsea is navigating a significant injury list, including Levi Colwill (knee), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Romeo Lavia, and goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen. Mykhaylo Mudryk is also unavailable through suspension.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Sánchez; James, Badiashile, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos, Fernández; Neto, João Pedro, Palmer.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Historical Dominance: Chelsea has progressed from all eight previous cup ties against Hull City.

• The Streak: Chelsea is unbeaten in their last 8 meetings with the Tigers (8W, 0D).

• The 2020 Rematch: The sides last met at this exact stage in 2020, where Chelsea edged a 2–1 victory at the MKM.

• Clean Sheet Struggle: Hull has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches, a worrying stat when facing a Chelsea side that recently put five past Charlton Athletic.

Tactical Preview and Prediction

While Hull City will look to exploit the atmosphere of a sold-out MKM Stadium, Chelsea’s tactical flexibility under Rosenior has been their greatest asset. The Blues excel at playing through pressure, which could neutralize Hull's energetic midfield. However, the emotional return of Rosenior adds an unpredictable element—will the "Rosenior Effect" inspire his new team or provide extra motivation for his former one?

Despite the Tigers' spirit, the individual quality of Palmer and João Pedro should prove too much for the Championship defense.

Final Score Prediction: Hull City 1–3 Chelsea