Hull City VS Everton

Hull City are highly likely to adopt a compact 5-4-1 five-back setup for this fixture, with all players dropping deep to shore up their backline, ceding most midfield possession to focus entirely on counter-attacking play. Winger Belloumi will take charge of pushing forward on the break down the flanks: as soon as his side wins back possession, he will look to play direct long balls to the target man up front, to exploit the open space left behind by the opposition when they push high up the pitch. Their clear weakness lies in their poor ball-playing ability in the midfield. Once their initial counter is intercepted, they can barely launch a second attacking wave. After soaking up pressure for long stretches, their fitness will inevitably drop in the second half, leaving gaps in wide defensive coverage. The side’s entire game plan is built on packing the box at home to stifle Everton’s attacking progression, waiting for unforced errors from the visitors to pounce on counter-attack opportunities.