Middlesbrough make one change from the side that came so close to winning at Leicester, with Viktor Fischer preferred to Adama Traore in midfield.

Middlesbrough XI: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Da Silva, Forshaw, Clayton, de Roon, Ramirez, Negredo, Fischer.

Image source, Opta

Josh Tymon, Hull's impressive 17-year-old left-back, returns to the bench and is replaced by Andrew Robertson. Adama Diomande is chosen instead of the banned Dieumerci Mbokani up front.

Hull XI: Marshall, Elmohamady, Davies, Dawson, Robertson, Snodgrass, Livermore, Clucas, Mason, Henriksen, Diomande.

Image source, Opta

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender

It is hard to see anything but another defeat for Hull.

The Tigers are into the EFL Cup semi-finals but are still struggling in the league - the only thing that gives them a bit of hope is that Middlesbrough are better away than they are at home.

Boro have picked up eight points from seven games on the road, compared to four points from six games at Riverside Stadium, where they have already lost four times.

Alvaro Negredo scored twice last time out for Boro and he's just wolfed some tablets and necked half a bottle of water. Pre-match prep, sorted. 

Everton

Everton's Yannick Bolasie is to undergo knee surgery after scans confirmed "serious ligament damage" after he was injured against Manchester United on Sunday.

Bolasie, 27, signed for Everton from Crystal Palace in a £25m deal in August.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough v Hull.

Captain Cook v Mick Ronson, Chris Kamara v William Wilberforce, Chris Rea v Dean Windass.

It's really got it all tonight.

Image source, PA

Send in your thoughts on the game, the two places, any of the famous alumni above, any anecdotes about either place, basically anything you like. It's a free forum.  

You can tweet us at #bbcfootball or text us on 81111 (UK Only).

Matt Oliver: The Premier League is like 3 divisions in 1 at the moment: Top 5, next 7, bottom 8.

Agree with Matt? Or can a team still move from the bottom to the top and vice versa?

Tweet us at #bbcfootball

Image source, Getty Images

It turns out that Middlesbrough enjoy playing night games at home.

They have gone 40 floodlit matches without defeat at the Riverside, external with their last loss coming in February 2013. Kieron Dyer played in the hole that night. 

Did you even know that Dyer ever played for Boro? Me neither.

Current boss Aitor Karanka has won 19 and drawn three of his 22 games under the lights at the Riverside. That's what you call a formidable record...

These two teams have only played out two fixtures in the Premier League, with both clubs winning their home games in 2008-09.

They actually met last season in the Championship, with Boro winning 1-0 at the Riverside in March thanks to a late header from Dave 'One Cap, One Goal' Nugent.

Hull haven't won a league game at Middlesbrough since March 1986 - when Diana Ross was number one with Chain Reaction. Tune.

Penned by the Bee Gees of course. I digress.

Boro stat fans - your side have scored 94 goals against Hull in all competitions. If they bring up the ton tonight we will have had some night...

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been banned for four matches after his second dismissal for violent conduct this season.

Or, to put it another way, Sergio Aguero has got Christmas off work.

Aguero, 28, was sent off for a high and late challenge on Chelsea defender David Luiz in Saturday's 3-1 home loss.

The Argentina forward's previous dismissal was in August, when he received a retrospective red card for a challenge on West Ham's Winston Reid.

He will miss City's games against Leicester, Watford, Arsenal and Hull.

City's Fernandinho was also sent off after he clashed with Cesc Fabregas in the scuffle that followed Aguero's lunge, and the midfielder will serve a three-match ban.

Is under way.

Hull have just been handed a home tie against Swansea. Follow it in full here.

Middlesbrough

Image source, Reuters

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka on opponents Hull: "They have had injuries but they are in a good moment having reached the EFL Cup semi-final and they are only one point below us. We know them from last season but it is going to be a completely different game.

"We have to avoid complacency thinking we are playing really well or we are playing at home against Hull who have a lot of injuries.

"We have to forget everything and only think that we have a tough game and an important game, and just focus on us."

Hull haven't scored a goal before the 34th minute in the Premier League this season and are one of two sides yet to net in the opening half hour of a match in 2016-17 (along with Sunderland).

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Cole, who won the FA Cup twice with Manchester United, is guest as Mark Chapman presents BBC Sport's coverage of the FA Cup third round draw this evening. 

Chappers is at Hotel Football in Manchester with an audience and representatives of some clubs involved.

Jake Humphrey is presenting the draw itself with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright.

Don't forget you can follow it all live right here, on BBC Two now and on BBC Radio 5 live.

Conor McNamara
BBC MOTD commentator

Image source, Getty Images

What effect will reaching the League Cup semi-finals have on Hull's relegation battle?

I interviewed Mike Phelan after the penalty shootout win over Newcastle and he's hoping the excitement can rub off on his team's league form.

There will be a strain on resources though. One immediate effect from Tuesday's victory is the three-match suspension picked up by Dieumerci Mbokani.

With Abel Hernandez and Will Keane injured, it leaves Hull short on strikers. Middlesbrough have got Alvaro Negredo scoring goals again after a long drought and the hosts will be aware that Hull have never won a Premier League game on a Monday night.

Hull City

Hull make five changes from their League Cup win last week with Ryan Mason, Michael Dawson and David Marshall among those returning.

Full team news to come. 

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough make one change from the team which drew with Leicester last time out. Viktor Fischer replaces Adama Traore. 

Thirteen games in. A third of the season done and dusted and tonight two of the bottom five come up against each other.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough have won once at home all season and their season ticket holders have seen just five Boro goals so far in the Premier League. Can Aitor Karanka's side find some form to warm up a potentially freezing night at the Riverside?  

Image source, Getty Images

Hull started the season without a manager and with hardly any players - but still won their opening two games.

Since then though it's not been so sweet for Mike Phelan and co. Hull have picked up five points since and have only Swansea below them.

Image source, Getty Images

Both teams need the points. Who will come out smiling this evening?