Sheffield United-Manchester United is a match of the ninth day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 9 p.m.: TV, probable formations, predictions.
If Erik ten Hag has been able to live these two weeks off for the national teams with a certain – so to speak – lightheartedness, he owes it mainly to Scott McTominay.
The Scot, who came on three minutes from the end in place of former violet player Amrabat in the match with Brentford, with a resounding double in full recovery allowed Manchester United to avoid what would have been their third consecutive defeat, which could have seriously shaken the Dutch coach’s bench. The 2-1 win at the Bees may be that adrenaline rush that the Red Devils, coming off two reviewable performances against Crystal Palace in the league (0-1) and Galatasaray in the Champions League (2-3), needed like bread. The pressure on the former Ajax coach, in any case, remains strong: the next two games are must-wins at all costs; the first one against Sheffield United last in the standings with only one point; the second one is the cup match with the Danes of Copenhagen, not to be missed since United has not collected even one point in the most important event and is in danger of being eliminated.
Ten Hag in the Bramall Lane trip should recover Casemiro but the biggest problems are defense, still orphaned by Lisandro Martinez, Varane and Reguilon.
Archer
We’ll see if the break has done Sheffield United any good, which has so far given the impression that it has not absorbed the jump in category. The Blades, back in the top flight after two years of purgatory, have been an unmitigated disaster. The only point came in the head-to-head clash with Everton: since then Paul Heckingbottom’s team has suffered four more defeats, conceding a total of 15 goals and scoring only two.
The Prediction
Manchester United should not commit any missteps against what is currently the worst team in the Premier League, struggling with a sieve defense (22 goals conceded). It cannot be ruled out, however, that the Blades will manage to score at least one goal to the Red Devils’ fragile rearguard, which has been anything but airtight in recent matches.
The likely lineups for Sheffield United-Manchester United
- SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-4-2-1): Foderingham; Trusty, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson; Bogle, Norwood, Souza, Thomas; Hamer, McAtee; Archer.
- MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Reguilon; Amrabat, McTominay; Bruno Fernandes, Mount, Rashford; Hojlund.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-3
