In one of the most interesting Premier League match-ups on the schedule this weekend, Hull City are taking on Aston Villa away from home at the MKM Stadium at 5:30pm on Saturday, 5th September — one of the standout Premier League predictions this weekend. One side is on a perfect start. The other has not yet scored its first point.
Hull's bid to return to the top flight has been more successful than many anticipated. They have just won two of their two matches, and they've now caught up with the clubs who had a much bigger transfer spend this summer on two points. Villa, on the other hand, enter the game with a 0-0 record. Their last game was a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, in which Bukayo Saka netted the lone goal in the 59th minute.
Use form and key statistics to interpret the data.
The two victories Hull has had have been through efficiency, not superiority. Beating Coventry 1-0 is one of the aspects that's very important for a promoted club in trying to stay up in the Premier League for their first season or two.
Villa's statistics say otherwise. Zero points from two games is a poor start by any standard and a defeat without a goal is a cause for worry. Then there is context: Villa are currently in a tight spot with their football in the continent after an away trip to Club Brugge to face another big challenge is not far off after this match. The squad rotation and fatigue arise as realistic factors here too – this early in September.
Match Analysis
Let's begin with Hull's home record. They have a genuine platform when they play in front of their own supporters, at this stage with a true sense of belief having been developed with two wins already secured. Early in the season, the players promoted on a given side may be able to start the campaign off easier without the pressure of results.
The root of Villa's issue is more structural than a bad luck one. While it's not a cause for concern in itself, it can be a warning sign if it comes on the heels of another defeat and an already sub-par season and they're going to have a difficult schedule. If it's the fact that some of the players were exhausted from the midweek European fixture, then it may be something to look out for once the teams have been announced nearer to kick-off.
Rooted Predict Verdict
We'll be honest: If you're looking for a "100 sure football prediction today," you won't find one. Rooted Predict doesn't sell 100 sure football predictions, and it doesn't sell certainty. What we can do is examine the evidence that it is referring to and use data to make our predictions.
Villa's winless start and possible rotation is negated by Hull's form at home, creating the argument for Hull to not suffer a defeat here. Backing an outright home win is not the best way to show the underlying pattern; a Double Chance (Hull or Draw) would do a better job of that, and the team has been Premier League quality even in a bad spell. This isn't a sure thing for those keeping track of our free football predictions throughout the weekend, but rather one of the more balanced predictions on the line-up.
Conclusion
The battle of two contrasting stories at the MKM Stadium. Hull have the form and home advantage. They're of quality, but so far, Villa don't have the results and neither do they have a healthy fixture list. It's a match-up that, given the absence of a big name, is worth keeping in mind this weekend in the Premier League match predictions — this week's EPL match preview verdict goes to Hull.