Sheffield United-Burnley is a match of the thirty-fourth day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 4 pm: live TV, streaming, probable formations, predictions.
The current standings tell us that both are almost doomed. Of the two, however, the one who is worse off is surely Sheffield United, now destined for immediate relegation to the Championship. There is no mathematical verdict yet, but the Blades’ hopes of salvation are slim to none.
Not even experienced coach Chris Wilder, who was drafted in during the current championship, has been able to straighten things out: the red-and-whites’ squad showed heavy limitations right from the start and never gave the impression of being equipped to maintain the category, not even after the repair market. Sheffield United’s numbers after all speak for themselves: only 16 points won in 32 days, 30 goals scored (worst attack in the tournament) and 84 conceded (obviously, worst defense). Since December, the Blades have brought home only one success, going on to win at home to Luton. In the last two months, however, just three draws have come, including one with Chelsea, stopped 2-2 at Bramall Lane.
Wilder and his men will try to delay as much as possible the inevitable relegation in the direct clash with Burnley, another newly promoted side that risks finding itself in the Championship after not even a year.
The Clarets, unlike Sheffield United, have some extra hope: they are -6 from fourth-last, Nottingham Forest, but time to complete what would be a desperate comeback is starting to run out. Losing (or not winning) in Sheffield, for Vincent Kompany’s men, would mean moving closer to the abyss. Burnley is coming off a good draw with Brighton – fifth result in the last six Premier Lesgue days – but the three points have been missing since last March 16.
The Prediction
For Burnley, which of the two is the one still realistically in the running for salvation, it’s a chance to stay attached to the “train” and shorten on the fourth-last. Will Sheffield United’s pride be enough to quench the Clarets’ hunger for points? In our opinion, no: trust in Kompany’s men.
The likely lineups for Sheffield United-Burnley
SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-5-2): Grbic; Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Bogle, Hamer, Arblaster, Souza, Osborn; McBurnie, Brereton Diaz.
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Muric; Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Taylor; Odobert, Cullen, Berge, Larsen; Fofana, Foster.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
