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What is it?
It’s Chelsea vs Hull City in the Premier League.
When is it?
Sunday January 22.
What time is kick-off?
This one starts at 4.30pm GMT, slightly later because of a triple bill of Premier League fixtures.
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What TV channel is it on?
You’ll be able to watch the game on Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 1 HD or Sky Sports Ultra HD.
What is the team news?
Chelsea:
Striker Diego Costa is fit to return from a back injury when Premier League leaders Chelsea play Hull on Sunday.
Costa missed last weekend’s win at Leicester amid speculation over his future and interest from China, but is committed to the cause, Conte says.
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Captain John Terry is available again following suspension, but is likely to be a substitute at best.
Predicted Lineup: Courtois; Cahill, Azpilicueta, Luiz; Alonso, Kante, Fabregas, Moses; Pedro, Costa, Hazard
Hull:
Hull winger Robert Snodgrass is an injury doubt for his side’s visit to Premier League leaders Chelsea.
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The Scotland international has been forced to sit out training this week due to a muscle strain and will be monitored by head coach Marco Silva, who has no other new injury worries.
Jake Livermore’s £10million move to West Brom was completed on Friday morning, while recent signings Oumar Niasse and Evandro could make their full debuts. Midfielder David Meyler is hoping to be in contention after returning to training.
Provisional squad: Jakupovic, Marshall, Robertson, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Huddlestone, Hernandez, Snodgrass, Clucas, Diomande, Mason, Evandro, Meyler, Weir, Niasse, Tymon, Bowen.
What are they saying?
Antonio Conte on Diego Costa:
“Yes. He’s available for the game against Hull City,” Conte said.
“He restarted having training sessions on Tuesday with the rest of the team.
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“I think the player wants to stay at Chelsea. He’s very happy to play with us. This idea (to move) is far from his mind.
“Diego is a good player. He’s a good person. Now he’s only focused on Chelsea and to play with us and to continue to help us.
“He missed only one game, the last game. Now he’s ready to come back with us.
“I’m sure about his commitment, his behaviours, his will to fight with this team, to try together to fight to the end to try to win the title.”
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Marco Silva on Jake Livermore:
“If you asked me if I wanted to lose Jake, my answer is no,” Silva told a press conference before Saturday’s game at Premier League leaders Chelsea.
“Of course he was a very important player for us and it’s never good when you lose an important player.
“But it was a very good proposal for him and the club have a good proposal also. The deal is closed. This is football.
“What we need in this moment is to find a quick replacement for this player because we’ve lost an important one.”
What are the odds?
Chelsea – 1/5
Hull – 7/1
Draw – 20/1
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What’s our prediction?
All eyes will be on Diego Costa, whether he returns to the starting line-up or is on the substitutes’ bench. The reaction of the Stamford Bridge crowd towards the striker who missed the victory over Leicester City following a bust-up with Antonio Conte will also be interesting.
Prediction: Chelsea 3 Hull City 0
Baba Rahman to return to Chelsea
Ghana defender Abdul Baba Rahman will return to Chelsea for treatment after picking up an injury while on international duty.
Rahman, who is currently on loan at Schalke 04, has been recalled by the German outfit.
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But sources say he will return to his parent club, Chelsea for further assessment.
He is expected to remain there pending the severity of injury suffered.
The Ghana international suffered a damaged knee injury during his country’s 1-0 win over Uganda in their opening AFCON clash in Prot-Gentil.
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The West African is expected to depart Gabon on Friday night after being ruled out of the tournament.
Chelsea ace: Things have changed with this team-mate, we never used to talk
MARCOS ALONSO has praised fellow wing-back Victor Moses for his impact for Chelsea this season.
The Blues have been successful with the unusual formation under Antonio Conte using the duo.
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And Alonso revealed he works well with Moses when he previously wouldn’t have needed to talk with him.
“I think it is a good balance for the team,” he told the club’s website.
“There was no need for us to talk to each other before about what we were going to do.
“A lot of games he goes more forward and I maybe stay more at the back, but that also depends on how the other team plays and it’s good to have variation and different options.
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“I think Victor is doing a great job and hopefully we can keep helping the team as we have been doing in the previous games.”
Chelsea sit top of the Premier League table, seven points clear of Liverpool and Tottenham.
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The Blues return to action on Sunday when they welcome Hull to Stamford Bridge.
Alonso has been in fine form for Chelsea this season, making 16 Premier League appearances.
The post Chelsea vs Hull City – Complete Preview ( Team News, 3-4-3 Predicted Lineup, betting odds and more); Baba Rahman returning to Chelsea, Alonso on Moses appeared first on Chelsea Season.