Hull City vs Chelsea live: Watch Jan 11, 2014 early Premier League match

Topics: Live Stream, TV Schedules, Live Scores, Chelsea, Hull City, English Premier League

Chelsea make a visit to the KC Stadium where they face Steve Bruce’s Hull City who currently have a formidable record at home.

Preview: Hull hoping to maintain fine home record

The Tigers have conceded just six goals at home in the league this season, the same number of goals Arsenal have conceded at the Emirates and Manchester City at the Etihad. The newly promoted side have lost just twice in the ten matches they have played at their own turf and manager Jose Mourinho will have to come with a plan if he wants to get anything out of the match.
However the Portuguese is one of the most astute managers in the world of football right now and knows how to get the best out of his players in any given situation.

Ahead of the match midfielder John Obi Mikel lauded his manager on his abilities and how he instils fear in his players to get the best out of them.

"He [Mourinho] always wants us to play in a certain way and give 110%. If you don't, you're out," Mikel said according to ESPN.

"As a player, that's what you want,” added the Nigerian.

"You don't want to slack, you don't want to sit down and think: 'You're the best, I don't want to defend or I don't want to run.' If you don't do those things, you don't play."

"That's the mentality he wants instilled in this team -- and slowly but surely the likes of Eden, Oscar and Willian are beginning to do that.”

Whereas the likes of Arsenal and Man City have made headlines for the goals they have scored and the beautiful football they have been playing, Mourinho’s Chelsea have quietly racked up all the points and brought themselves in the mix of things for the League title. The Blues are third in the table just a single point behind Man City and two points behind leaders Arsenal, any slip up by the top two teams can allow Chelsea to finish this week on top of the table.

Apart from their prolific attacking trio consisting of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian which has been in breathtaking form the Blues have also benefited from captain John Terry returning to his best which has seen Chelsea concede just once in their last five matches. If they manage to record a win on Saturday it will be Chelsea’s fifth straight win in all competitions.

Hull on the other hand have been on a good run themselves. The Tigers have lost just twice in their last five matches, with the defeats coming at the hands of Liverpool and Man United. Their victories on the other hand have been thoroughly deserved which include a 6-0 mauling of Premier League side Fulham and a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

Steve Bruce’s side has fared well against top teams at home which should be a cause of concern for Chelsea and Jose Mourinho. The Tigers recorded a 3-1 victory over Liverpool on the first of December and were 2-0 up against Man United when they played against the defending champions last month but were unlucky to lose the match 3-2.

Defender Paul McShane has been ruled out for up to four weeks with an ankle injury and will not be able to take part in the match, whereas winger Sone Aluko (Achilles) and striker Matty Fryatt (hamstring) have also been sidelined. In positive news for Steve Bruce Robbie Brady could make a return in the match against the Blues.

Chelsea have several injury concerns of their own with both Branislav Ivanovic (knee) and Frank Lampard (muscle injury) ruled out of the tie. Ryan Bertrand is a doubt for the match whereas there is no return date set for youngster Marco Van Ginkel.

Last time Hull scored a victory over Chelsea was back in October 1988 and the Tigers have not got the better of their counterparts in their last nine meetings. The two sides met in the reverse fixture on the first day of the current Premier League campaign. Goals from Lampard and Oscar gave Chelsea a 2-0 victory at the Stamford Bridge.