Sheffield United vs Chelsea

Bramall Lane is the venue as rock-bottom Sheffield United and mid-table Chelsea go head-to-head in a high-stakes Premier League meeting.

Despite making a valiant attempt to upset the apple cart at Anfield in midweek, Sheffield United slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, extending their underwhelming league run to six winless matches (D2, L4). Chris Wilder’s porous backline made an unwanted piece of history on Merseyside, becoming the first side since Ipswich Town in 1963/64 to concede 80 goals after the first 30 top-flight matchdays. Nailed to the bottom of the Premier League table, ten points adrift of safety, the Blades must return to the win column for the first time since early February to secure a fighting chance in a relegation scrap. However, they’ve only won twice in their last nine competitive games against Chelsea (D1, L7), alarmingly conceding 2+ goals eight times in that period.

In the meantime, Chelsea pulled off a historic comeback in midweek Premier League action, turning around Manchester United’s 3-2 lead beyond the 99th minute to claim a morale-boosting 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge. Mauricio Pochettino’s side delivered a perfect response to last weekend’s dismal 2-2 home draw against United’s fellow relegation rivals Burnley, climbing to within a five-point distance of sixth-placed Man Utd. The Blues are confident of strengthening their late European push after stringing together a six-game unbeaten league streak for the first time this season (W3, D3). Adding to Pochettino’s confidence, his men have enjoyed a near-flawless Premier League record against newly-promoted clubs this season (W4, D1), including a 2-0 home win in December’s reverse fixture.