West Ham United welcome Sheffield United to the London Stadium in a huge mid-table Premier League clash.
With both teams locked on 12 points apiece, whoever wins here could climb to fifth providing that Bournemouth don’t defeat Watford.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesWest Ham’s Aaron Cresswell is set to be available for selection after overcoming a groin strain, which kept him out of their defeat at Everton last weekend.
Winston Reid is close to returning from a long-term knee injury but won’t be risked here.
Michail Antonio (thigh) and Lukasz Fabianski (hip) are both ruled out.
Sheffield United have a full squad available for selection with no injury concerns after David McGoldrick, John Fleck and Oli McBurnie all passed fitness tests ahead of Monday’s win over Arsenal.
Form
West Ham are winless in their last two matches, conceding twice and scoring once but have scored in each of their last three home games.
Sheffield United meanwhile have been consistent in their last five games with two wins and losses apiece plus a draw, although they have been consistent on the road this season with three draws and a win.
Stat Attack
- West Ham have won just one of their last five meetings with Sheffield United in all competitions (W1, D1, L3).
- Just Winston Reid and Mark Noble remain with West Ham from the last team sheet to face the Blades in August 2014.
- Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson is the only non ‘Big Six’ goalkeeper to have registered four clean sheets this season.
- Sebastian Haller has produced 19 shots for West Ham this season, of which none have hit the woodwork.
- Two of Sheffield United’s last four away goals have come from own goals by Chelsea and Everton respectively.
Prediction
After two disappointing performances, West Ham need to get back to their high pressing best but Sheffield United are a super solid unit as evident by their gutsy display on Monday to stun Arsenal.
I therefore can see a tough test for the Hammers because they will need to break the Blades’ togetherness because they defend in packs, which is difficult for many teams to handle as the likes of Chelsea and Everton have found out to their peril.
A draw therefore would be a great result for either team because it’s difficult to see where a winner is going to come from.
Prediction: West Ham United 1-1 Sheffield United
Result: West Ham United 1-1 Sheffield United