Sheffield United kick off this weekend’s Premier League action as they welcome league leaders, Liverpool to Bramall Lane.
A win for Liverpool will temporarily extend their lead over Manchester City to eight points, whilst the Blades can go fourth with a shock victory.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesSheffield United are still without Billy Sharp as he serves the last of a three match ban for his sending off a fortnight ago against Southampton.
David McGoldrick meanwhile is a doubt with a groin injury whilst Kean Bryan remains absent as he continues to recover from a knock.
Liverpool could have Divock Origi available after the Belgian spent the last fortnight sidelined with an ankle injury.
Sadio Mane is also set to return after recovering from a knock which kept him out of their 2-0 midweek win over MK Dons in the Carabao Cup.
Alisson (calf), Nathaniel Clyne (knee) and Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) are all ruled out.
Form
Sheffield United have been very consistent in the league so far with two wins, draws and defeats apiece, although they did suffer a midweek cupset at home to Sunderland in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Liverpool are looking to continue their unbeaten domestic start in which they’ve won their first six league games on top of a midweek Cup win, although they are still yet to register a clean sheet in the league.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield United are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings in all competitions with Liverpool (W2, D1, L2).
- Liverpool have won just one of their last 11 trips to Bramall Lane (W1, D4, L6), with three of the four draws finishing goalless.
- Jack O’ Connell and Enda Stevens have both made one last man tackle for Sheffield United, whereas no Liverpool player is yet to do so.
- Out of Liverpool’s three main strikers, Mohamed Salah has converted four of six shots on target into goals unlike Sadio Mane (four goals from seven shots on target) and Roberto Firmino (three goals from eight shots on target).
- Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson and Adrian of Liverpool have both made three punches and two high claims this season in goal.
Prediction
Sheffield United have so far proven very adaptable depending on their opposition as Chelsea and Everton have already found out.
I therefore can see Chris Wilder having something up his sleeve tactically but Liverpool will be tough to beat, so I can see a narrow Reds victory.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Liverpool
Result: Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool