Chelsea v Hull City preview

14 August 2009 10:07
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Chelsea and Hull City have the honour of getting the 2009/10 Premier League season underway on Saturday lunchtime.[LNB] Stamford Bridge will provide the setting for the first game of the new campaign, with a summer of eager anticipation set to reach its climax.[LNB]Chelsea will be hoping to get off to a flying start, with the Blues harbouring realistic ambitions of wrestling the title away from Manchester United this term.[LNB]Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti will also want to hit the ground running as he takes in a Premier League contest for the first time.[LNB]Pre-season performances bode well for the Blues, with impressive showings on an American tour complemented nicely by Community Shield success last weekend.[LNB]Chelsea may have made few alterations to their playing staff over the summer, but they will feel that only minor tweaks were required to a squad which is already brimming with world class talent.[LNB]Hull City, in contrast, have been busy in the transfer market of late and will be hoping their new arrivals settle quickly.[LNB]The Tigers only avoided the drop by the narrowest of margins last term and will be keen to avoid a repeat this time around.[LNB]Phil Brown's men remain a top-flight outfit as a direct result of a bright start to the previous campaign which saw them rack up points early on.[LNB]They will be keen to burst out of the blocks once again, and avoid the subsequent plummet down the rankings after Christmas.[LNB]A trip to West London should hold no fear for Hull, after they ground out a 0-0 draw at the Bridge last term, but they must beware a sluggish start which could set the tone for a difficult season.[LNB]No worriesChelsea have few injury concerns heading into the game and could keep faith with the side that overcame Manchester United on penalties last Sunday.[LNB]With summer signing Yuri Zhirkov carrying a slight knee problem Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda should continue down the left, while Jose Bosingwa will be hoping to oust Branislav Ivanovic on the right.[LNB]Ricardo Carvalho is likely to partner John Terry at the heart of the back four, while Ancelotti's penchant for 4-4-2 means Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka should be paired in attack.[LNB]The only other notable absentees for the Blues are Joe Cole, who is yet to shake off a niggling knee injury, and Paulo Ferrerira, who has a similar ailment.[LNB]Both are, however, expected to be back in contention in the not too distant future.[LNB]DebutsHull could hand debuts to all four of their new signings when they head to the capital.[LNB]Stephen Hunt and Kamel Ghilas will go straight into the squad having completed four-year deals this week and could be joined by fellow new boys Seyi Olofinjana and Jozy Altidore.[LNB]Missing for the Tigers are knee-injury victims Ian Ashbee, Jimmy Bullard and Richard Garcia.[LNB]On a more positive note, goalkeeper Boaz Myhill is fit again after recovering from a thumb complaint.[LNB]Possible starting XIsChelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.[LNB]Hull City: Duke, Mendy, Turner, Dawson, Gardner, Hunt, Boateng, Olofinjana, Kilbane, Altidore, Ghilas.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports