Sheffield United make their Premier League return with a home clash against Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane.
Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades are back in the top-flight after a two-season absence, whilst Palace will look to build upon their solid mid-table finish of last season.
Team News
Sheffield Utd could hand summer signing, Auston Trusty his debut whilst Anis Slimane, Benie Traore and Vinicius Souza are also set to make their first competitive starts for the Blades.
Oliver Norwood (concussion), Daniel Jebbison (groin) and Oli McBurnie (foot) face late fitness tests.
Rhys Norrington-Davies (hamstring), Jayden Bogle, Ismael Coulibaly (both knee), John Fleck (leg) and Rhian Brewster (hamstring) are ruled out.
Crystal Palace will be without new signing, Matheus Franca as he recovers from an unspecified injury following his arrival from Flamengo.
Tyrick Mitchell (quad) is a doubt but Michael Olise (hamstring) and Will Hughes (knee) are ruled out.
Jefferson Lerma could make his debut for Palace after joining from Bournemouth this summer.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd host Palace at Bramall Lane in a 3pm BST kick-off on Saturday 12 August, untelevised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd have won just two of six previous Premier League meetings against Palace (W2, L4).
- Crystal Palace have won two of three previous Premier League visits to Sheffield Utd (W2, L1).
- Palace’s Eberechi Eze has scored in each of his last two appearances against Sheffield Utd (W2).
- Anel Ahmedhodzic has scored in each of Sheffield Utd’s last two matches (W2).
- Palace haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last three away matches (D1, L2).
Prediction
Returning to the top-flight after a two-season absence is no easy task but Sheffield Utd will need to hit the ground running after scoring just five goals in two of six pre-season friendlies, which is a worry when four of last season’s six top goalscorers have left the club.
James McAtee and Tommy Doyle though were on loan from Manchester City, unlike Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge who have left for Marseille and Burnley respectively, which raises a question of why the Blades haven’t moved for McAtee or Doyle this summer on a permanent transfer.
Palace meanwhile finished last season with just two losses in their last ten matches and although their pre-season hasn’t exactly been spectacular, I do expect them to have a solid season under Roy Hodgson who will bring stability and strong attacking football.
There however is the challenge of adapting to life without Wilfried Zaha but I do expect Palace to find a way to move forward, especially given their form unlike the Blades who seem to be lacking goals and could well be lacking firepower if Jebbison and McBurnie are unavailable.
Prediction: Sheffield United 0-2 Crystal Palace
Result: Sheffield United 0-1 Crystal Palace