Chelsea v Hull City: Key stats and talking points

Chelsea have hosted Hull City 18 times in the league without ever losing, a club record for both sides. However, the unbeaten visitors currently sit one place above Chelsea, who could go five home league games without a win against newly promoted opposition for the first time since 1948. Potent but porous With 26 goals in their five matches, Chelsea have been anything but dull – not that manager Xabi Alonso would mind that. "We want to have better balance, to be more solid, to be able to win in a boring game as well," he reflected after his side came from 2-0 down in midweek to beat Leeds 6-3 in the Carabao Cup third round. That result was indicative of Chelsea's breathless start to the season, including needing three and four goals respectively to beat Fulham and Brighton . The glut of goals scored – 16 so far by Chelsea players – has masked defensive deficiencies. Chelsea are conceding an average of two goals per game this season, with only Ipswich facing more shots on target in the Premier League than Chelsea's 21. The lack of clean sheets is a longer-term issue; the Blues have gone 19 league matches without one, the joint-third longest run in the club's history. [BBC] Hull yet to be breached Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic joked on Thursday that the only way to stop Chelsea's free-flowing forwards is "to kick them". This fixture certainly promises to be the sternest test yet for a promoted side who could become the first to start a Premier League season with four consecutive clean sheets. The Tigers have only faced nine shots on target – the fifth fewest in the division – and are one of just two teams, along with Leeds, yet to make an error leading to a shot on target against them. While a much-changed side were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Sunderland in midweek, Hull's defensive resolve has given them the platform to earn seven points from their opening three league matches. Only three clubs in Premier League history have been relegated after making a similar start (latterly Leeds in 2022-23) – and the five other promoted sides to reach seven points at such an early stage all stayed up. [BBC]