Sheffield United will host Burnley at Bramall Lane in a relegation six-pointed, with both teams eager to desperate for three points.
Sheffield United are at the bottom of the Premier League table, and the home fans will demand a strong performance from the players when they welcome Burnley to Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Blades are one of the favourites to go down this season, but they will want to go down swinging. Meanwhile, Burnley are 19th in the standings, and they are winless in five of the last six league matches. Both teams are in disappointing form here, and they will be desperate to grind out a win.
Sheffield United are one of the favourites to go down, but Burnley still have an outside chance of securing safety if they win their remaining games and the other results go their way. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Sheffield United
Taiwo Awoniyi is expected to return next week, but Anthony Elanga should be back against Burnley. However, Willy Boly is sidelined with a muscle injury.
Sheffield United will shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Ivo Grbic in goal. In the back three, Mason Holgate will start alongside Anel Ahmedhodzic and Auston Trusty. Jayden Bogle and Ben Osborn will start in the wide areas. They will look to protect the central defenders and contribute to the attack during transitions.
As for the midfield unit, Gustavo Hamer will start alongside Oliver Arblaster and Vinicius Souza. They will look to add defensive cover in the middle of the park and drive to the side. Finally, Oliver McBurnie will lead the line for the home team alongside Ben Brereton Diaz.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Grbic; Holgate, Trusty, Ahmedhodzic; Bogle, Souza, Hamer, Arblaster, Osborn; McBurnie, Brereton Diaz
Burnley
Aaron Ramsey is ruled out for the season with a knee injury, while Jordan Beyer misses out with a thigh injury. Nathan Redmond has a thigh injury as well, and Ameen Al-Dakhil has been ruled out for the season. Finally, Luca Koleosho is expected to return from his knee injury next month.
Burnley will shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Arijanet Muric in goal. Lorenz Assignon and Charlie Taylor will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and help out during counter-attacking opportunities. Dara O’Shea will start in central defence alongside Maxime Esteve.
Josh Cullen and Sander Berge will start in the middle of the park, and they will look to add defensive cover and physicality to the side. Wilson Odobert and Jacob Larsen will start in the wide areas. They will look to create goalscoring opportunities for their team mates on the break. Finally, David Datro Fofana will lead the line for Burnley alongside Lyle Foster.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Muric; Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Taylor; Larsen, Berge, Cullen, Odobert; Fofana, Foster
Key Stats
- Sheffield United have conceded at least two goals in their last six matches in the Premier League.
- Burnley have failed to win 14 of their last 15 matches in the Premier League.
- Sheffield United have won their last three home matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- 18 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Burnley have conceded in each of their last six league matches.
Player to Watch
Ben Brereton Diaz
The 25-year-old Chilean international has four goals and an assist in eight Premier League appearances this season, and he will look to influence the game in the final third with his creativity and goal scoring ability.
Ben Brereton Diaz’s performances have been quite impressive in recent weeks, and he will look to continue in that rich vein of form and make a difference for his side in the attack.
Prediction
Sheffield United 1-1 Burnley
Both teams are in disappointing form right now, and this is likely to be a close contest. Sheffield United will look to pull off an impressive result at home. But they are completely devoid of form and confidence right now. The hosts are likely to struggle once again.
Meanwhile, Burnley have not been at their best either, and it remains to be seen whether they can put on an improved performance here. It will not be a surprise if the two teams end up cancelling each other out. A draw could be on the cards here with both teams sharing the spoils.
