Hull rank top of the Premier League charts for total yellow cards this season, with 18 bookings from their five matches. They have landed this selection in every league game so far, including ten yellow cards across their final two fixtures before the international break against Chelsea and Newcastle.

The Tigers like to be strong in their tackles and compete for every loose ball, which has been a theme under Sergej Jakirovic. Last season, Hull picked up the most yellow cards in the Championship. This looks like a difficult matchup for the Tigers against an Everton side who have forced at least two cards from their opponents in four of their last five fixtures.

Everton are averaging 5.14 corners per game across all competitions this season, landing this selection in four of their seven matches. They finished on exactly four corners in all three misses, highlighting how consistently they have got close to this line. David Moyes likes his side to utilise width and get crosses into the box at every available opportunity. 

Meanwhile, Hull are conceding an average of 5.43 corners per game. They have started the season strongly in terms of results, but goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis has played a significant role in that success. Opponents have generally found no issue in carving out shooting chances against Hull, and Everton are expected to control proceedings at the MKM Stadium this weekend.

James Tarkowski is perhaps Everton’s biggest threat from set pieces, and he has registered a shot in five of his six starts this season. The centre-back even scored the equalising goal against Bournemouth a few weeks ago, firing home a rebound during stoppage time to rescue a point at the Vitality Stadium.

Tarkowski is strong in the air, and he is usually the target when Everton send balls into the box. With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner usually the ones responsible for crossing the ball in, Tarkowski is always in the game. Hull have conceded an average of 13.8 shots per game this season, so there should be chances for the Everton centre backs to get forward here.

No Hull player has recorded more shots in the Premier League this season than Mohamed Belloumi, who really announced himself by scoring a brace at Stamford Bridge. His two goals helped the Tigers earn an impressive 2-2 draw against Chelsea, and he has established himself as one of Hull’s danger men going forward.

Belloumi is averaging 2.94 shots per 90 from his five league appearances this term, landing this selection in four of those matches. Considering Hull have spent a lot of time this season defending deep and trying to protect their leads, those figures are impressive. In their only league defeat, the Tigers accumulated 22 shots against Newcastle, with Belloumi accounting for five of those.

Belloumi has carried a significant attacking threat, but his defensive contribution has been equally impressive. The winger often tracks back to support Lewie Coyle defensively, while also leading the press for Hull from the front at times. 

Belloumi ranks top of the Hull squad for tackles, averaging 3.62 per 90 in the Premier League. That includes six tackles against Newcastle just before the international break. He is also averaging 1.58 fouls per 90, demonstrating his willingness to get stuck into duels and attempt to regain possession for his side. Belloumi should operate on the same flank as Jack Grealish this weekend, and Everton are likely to channel the majority of their play down that flank, which will bring Belloumi into the game.

After returning to Everton over the summer, Grealish was trusted to start their final two games before the international break. He drew four fouls against Wolves in the EFL Cup before winning another two free-kicks against Ipswich. Last season, the winger averaged 3.29 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions for the Toffees.

Grealish remains one of the best players in the league when it comes to inviting contact and forcing defenders into challenges. He can be a frustrating player to deal with, and Lewie Coyle will have the tough task of trying to contain him. The Hull captain is averaging only 0.81 fouls per 90 and has been carded once across six starts, but this promises to be his toughest matchup of the season.

Harrison Armstrong seems to have established himself as an important starter in Everton’s double pivot. The 19-year-old has started six out of seven competitive matches for his side this season, and he has completed the full 90 minutes in five of those appearances.

Armstrong is averaging 1.68 fouls per 90 in that time, landing this selection in three of those starts, and he has already collected two yellow cards. Those numbers reflect how much of a role he is given with protecting the backline - no Everton player has accrued more fouls than Armstrong so far this season. He should find duels against Oli McBurnie this weekend, as the striker often drops deeper to get on the ball. The Scottish international is averaging 2.34 fouls drawn per 90 this campaign.

Oli McBurnie has been amongst the fouls this season - he is also averaging 1.43 fouls committed per 90, picking up two yellow cards from five Premier League appearances. The striker is always willing to engage in a physical duel, and Hull usually play quite direct to McBurnie to get him as involved in the game as possible. 

The 30-year-old should find plenty of duels against Tarkowski here, who is equally as aggressive. With that being said, the Everton centre-back does tend to go down easily at times to buy soft free-kicks, and he is averaging 1.50 fouls drawn per 90 this season. That is the second-highest figure in the Everton squad behind Grealish.

Thierno Barry has made an impressive start to the season, scoring five goals from seven appearances in all competitions. That includes a hat-trick against Preston in the EFL Cup, as well as goals against Crystal Palace and Ipswich in the Premier League.

The Frenchman is averaging 4.35 shots per 90, which is notably high, and he could easily have added more goals to his tally. Barry has shown a massive improvement when it comes to finding space inside the penalty area compared to last season, and with the likes of Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall operating behind him, chances should continue to flow for the 23-year-old.

Following Beto’s departure over the summer, Thierno Barry is currently the only recognised centre-forward registered in Everton’s first-team squad. That has placed massive pressure on the Frenchman, but he has responded impressively by scoring five goals from seven appearances across all competitions this season.

Barry is averaging 4.35 shots per 90, and he has consistently been able to pop up in promising goalscoring positions. His movement in the box has improved significantly since last season. Hull have started strongly in terms of results, but Konstantinos Tzolakis has played a massive role. The Hull goalkeeper is averaging 3.29 saves per game. Based on that, Barry should be looking forward to the prospect of this matchup at the MKM Stadium.

Lewie Coyle looks set for a difficult afternoon on Sunday, as he should be directly up against Jack Grealish. The former Man City man has drawn nine fouls in four appearances for Everton this season, despite two of those outings coming from the bench. He is averaging 3.40 fouls drawn per 90.

Even though that is a relatively small sample, Grealish averaged 3.29 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions for Everton last season. He sees plenty of the ball on the left wing and remains one of the most effective players in the Premier League at inviting contact. Coyle has started all five of Hull’s league matches so far, and this promises to be his toughest individual matchup so far.