Chelsea v Hull City Betting: No Silva lining for the visitors at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea can consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier League table when they host relegation-threatened Hull City at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Conte's charges claimed a convincing 3-0 win against defending champions Leicester City last weekend - despite the absence of top scorer Diego Costa - and the Blues are strong favourites to maintain their fine form by taking maximum points against the Tigers. Chelsea are chalked up as bet365's 1/6 (1.17) favourites to win after confirmation that their star man is in contention to make his return.

Hull have won two of their three fixtures since Marco Silva replaced Mike Phelan in the Humberside hot seat, but the Tigers will surely make this trip with trepidation, for they have a wretched record on the road in the Premier League.

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The visitors have lost each of their last eight league matches away from home, while Silva's side have failed to score in all but one of their last seven games on their travels. Bet365 offer a chunky 16/1 (17.0) that Hull buck the trend by beating the league leaders, while the same firm go 13/2 (7.50) that the visitors pick up a precious point.

Chelsea have been superb at Stamford Bridge, winning 11 of their 12 matches on home soil this season and seven of their last nine home wins have been by at least two clear goals. The odds compilers offer just 8/15 (1.52) that the home side repeat that feat when they line up against Silva's men.

Conte, too, has added an impressive steel to the Blues' backline this season; Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six Premier League wins and bet365's 4/6 (1.67) quote for the west Londoners to win to nil looks to be a solid selection.

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Despite Costa's return, Conte will have been heartened by an impressive performance from his attacking triumvirate of Pedro, Eden Hazard and Willian against the Foxes last weekend and, with such strength at his disposal, the Blues boss will feel confident that his side have the capacity to rack up the goals once again.

Silva's side will look to frustrate the league leaders, but Chelsea have been in fantastic form in front of goal, notching an impressive 14 goals in their last four victories in all competitions and backing the Blues to get amongst the goals again could well yield profit.

It is, therefore, the 5/6 (1.83) quote on offer from bet365 for Chelsea to score three or more goals that is the recommended play for punters; the selection would have landed in each of the Blues' last four wins in all competitions.

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