Bournemouth will host Sheffield United at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, looking to build on their win over Burnley.
Bournemouth are 13th in the league table, and they will look to move closer to the top half with a victory over a struggling Sheffield United team. The Blades are at the bottom of the league table, with five defeats from their last six league matches, and they will be massive underdogs heading into this contest.
Bournemouth managed to pick up a 3-1 win over Sheffield United when these two teams met in November, and the home fans will be expecting a similar performance and result here. Sheffield United are 11 points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and they will need to go on a winning run to preserve their status as a Premier League club next season.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Ryan Fredericks has been ruled out for the season with a calf injury, Tyler Adams misses out with a thigh injury, James Hill has an ankle injury, while Marcos Senesi and Max Aarons are long-term absentees with thigh problems.
Bournemouth will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Neto in goal. Adam Smith and Milos Kerkez will start as the full-backs here. The two players will look to help out in the attack and protect the central defenders. Illia Zabarnyi will start in the central defensive unit alongside Chris Mepham.
In the midfield pivot, Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook will look to break up opposition attacks and add drive to the side. Justin Kluivert is expected to be deployed as the attacking midfielder here and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third with his ingenuity.
Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier will start as the wingers. They will look to add width and creativity from the flanks. Finally, Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Bournemouth against Sheffield United on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Solanke
Sheffield United
The Blades are without Max Lowe for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury, Rhys Norrington-Davies is out for the season with hamstring issue. Chris Basham is unlikely to play again this season with an ankle injury, while John Egan is ruled out until may with an ankle injury,
Cameron Archer has a calf injury, and he will return to action later this month. Ben Slimane misses out with a thigh injury as well, and Mason Holgate is suspended. Rhian Brewster and Daniel Jebbison are long-term absentees.
Sheffield United will field a heavily-weakened side because of their multiple injury problems, and they are likely to shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Ivo Grbic in goal. In the back three, Anel Ahmedhodzic will start alongside Jack Robinson and Auston Trusty. Jayden Bogle and Yasser Larouci will start as the wing-backs. They will look to protect the back three and help out during transitions.
In the midfield, Gustavo Hamer will start alongside Vinicius Souza and Tom Davies. The three players will look to outnumber Bournemouth in the midfield and keep things compact in the middle of the park. Finally, James McAtee will lead the line for Sheffield United alongside Oliver McBurnie.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Grbic; Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Bogle, Hamer, Souza, Davies, Larouci; McAtee; McBurnie
Key Stats
- Sheffield United have been losing at both half time and full time in their last three matches in the Premier League.
- Sheffield United have failed to score in their last three matches in the Premier League.
- 13 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
- Bournemouth and Sheffield United have both won two each out of the last six meetings between them.
- Sheffield United have conceded 21 goals in their last six matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Dominic Solanke
The 26-year-old striker has 14 goals and three assists in the Premier League this season. He has been in outstanding form and will look to punish a vulnerable Sheffield United defence here. Solanke will look to add to his tally for the season and help his team grind out all three points in the end.
Prediction
Bournemouth 3-1 Sheffield United
Bournemouth are undoubtedly the better team on paper and despite their inconsistencies in recent weeks, they should be able to grind out a win here. Sheffield United are in abysmal form and they are now lacking in confidence and momentum.
The Blades will be without several key players because of injuries as well. It seems highly unlikely that they will be able to upset the odds. Bournemouth should be able to pile further misery on the visitors, and a home win is likely.