Chelsea host Hull City at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, 12 September, with kick-off at 3pm. Newly promoted Hull make the trip to west London for a first taste of the Premier League, against a Chelsea side still finding their rhythm under Xabi Alonso. Here’s everything Cradle View readers need before the game gets underway, including how to actually keep up with the action.
Before we get into the finer details, here’s the headline info on where the match stands and what to expect.
With that out of the way, let’s get into what’s actually at stake at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
What’s at stake at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea come into the weekend sitting sixth in the table, still adjusting to life under Alonso after a narrow 1-2 defeat away at Arsenal last time out. Hull, by contrast, arrive full of confidence after winning promotion through the Championship play-offs, and this is their first Premier League meeting with Chelsea in years. It’s a game with a very different tone to their old top-flight scraps at Stamford Bridge, with a new-look Chelsea side and a Hull team eager to prove they belong at this level.
That context matters when it comes to setting expectations for the game itself, which brings us to the part most readers actually want sorted first.
So, can you actually watch the match live in the UK? The short answer is no, and here’s why.
How to watch Chelsea vs Hull City in the UK
This is a traditional 3pm Saturday kick-off, which means it falls under English football’s long-standing broadcast blackout. Under Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes, no broadcaster is permitted to show live football in Britain between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on a Saturday. That rule applies here, so Chelsea vs Hull City won’t be shown live on Sky Sports, NOW TV, TNT Sports, or Amazon Prime Video within the UK. The rule has been in place since the 1960s and is set to remain until at least the end of the current TV rights cycle in 2029.
That doesn’t mean you’re left completely in the dark, though. There are still a few solid ways to follow the game as it happens.
For UK fans, here are the realistic options for the afternoon.
Ways to follow the match without a TV feed
BBC Radio 5 Live typically carries commentary on Premier League games affected by the blackout, so that’s the most reliable option for live audio coverage. The Premier League’s official fixtures page also runs live text commentary and match centre stats throughout, which is handy if you’re following from your phone during the afternoon. Highlights will air that evening on Match of the Day on BBC One, and viewers outside the UK, where the blackout doesn’t apply, will be able to watch live through their region’s usual Premier League broadcaster.
With the viewing situation sorted, here’s what to expect from the two sides out on the pitch.
Chelsea will be leaning on their most in-form attacking players to get back to winning ways at home.
Team news and players to watch
Cole Palmer and João Pedro have shared the goalscoring load for Chelsea so far this season, and both will be central to any response after the Arsenal defeat. Hull head into the game as clear underdogs, but promoted sides have shown this term that a well-organised, battling approach can still cause problems for bigger clubs on their travels. Expect Chelsea to dominate possession, with Hull looking to stay compact and hit on the counter.
That’s the full picture ahead of Saturday’s game. While you wait for kick-off, there’s plenty more to explore on the site.
Catch up on the latest entertainment news and reviews or browse our streaming guides for what’s worth watching this weekend. And for more from the world of celebrity and pop culture, head over to our celebrity news hub.