Chelsea (under manager Liam Rosenior) are set to face Hull City away at the MKM Stadium in the FA Cup on Friday, February 13, 2026, with kick-off at 7:45 PM GMT (that’s 8:45 PM WAT, given your location in Nigeria). This is a cup clash, so expect some rotation from a strong Premier League side.
The “Alejandro Garnacho & Cole Palmer Agreement Reached” Part
This phrasing is sensationalized—it’s not about a new transfer, swap, or secret deal between the two players. Garnacho already joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2025 for around £40m (a move that’s had mixed results so far, with the winger struggling for consistency and form in some games). The “agreement reached” refers to tactical or selection harmony under Rosenior—essentially, the manager has reportedly settled on ways to utilize both players in the squad, often in predicted lineups where Garnacho starts on the left wing and Palmer features centrally or rotates in. Headlines like this play on their potential partnership to excite fans, especially amid Garnacho’s up-and-down performances and Palmer’s key role.
No fresh transfer drama or swap involving Palmer (who remains a core Chelsea star) is reported here—it’s more about lineup decisions and squad integration.
Chelsea Lineups vs Hull City
Official confirmed lineups aren’t out yet (they’re usually revealed shortly before kick-off), but this is a cup game against lower-league opposition (Hull are in the Championship), so Rosenior is expected to rotate heavily to rest key players like Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, and possibly Joao Pedro after recent fixtures.
Predicted XIs from reliable sources (e.g., Sports Mole, Football London, and others) point to something like this for Chelsea (in a 4-2-3-1 formation):
Possible/Rotated Chelsea XI vs Hull City:
- GK: Robert Sanchez
- Defense: Josh Acheampong (RB), Mamadou Sarr, Benoit Badiashile, Jorrel Hato (LB)
- Midfield: Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos
- Attacking Mid/Wings: Pedro Neto (RW), Estevao Willian (No.10/AM), Alejandro Garnacho (LW)
- ST: Liam Delap
Variations include:
- Some predict Palmer rested entirely (or on the bench) to manage workload.
- Garnacho is tipped to start on the left, which ties into the “agreement” hype—giving him minutes to build form.
- Full-strength options might see Palmer, Fernandez, or Joao Pedro involved if Rosenior goes aggressive.
This setup aims to give fringe players and youth a chance while keeping the squad fresh. Hull will be tough at home, but Chelsea should have the quality to progress.
Chelsea fans have every right to be excited—this could be a good opportunity to see Garnacho and others click, especially with the attacking talent on show. If you’re watching, enjoy the game! Any specific aspect you’re curious about (e.g., more on Garnacho’s form or Palmer’s role)?
