Sheffield United vs Manchester United – Betting Tips and Premier League Preview

It has been a strange few weeks for Manchester United with decent performances contrasting against rather poor displays, and their seventh position in the Premier League arguably reflects their current form. However, the Red Devils now face another potentially uncomfortable game when visiting a Sheffield United team occupying fifth-place before the weekend fixtures, and defying the critics who tipped them for instant relegation to the Championship. The Blades’ relative success this term has been based on a sound defence but given their suspect home form, can the visitors take advantage of the latter and move closer to the top four.

Although Sheffield United have won their last two league games at Bramall Lane including a 1-0 home victory against Arsenal, both Leicester and Liverpool won at the venue earlier this season. Southampton were also 1-0 winners back in September, but a recent 3-0 home win against Burnley provides proof that United are gradually becoming accustomed to life in the Premier League. With the Blades now unbeaten in five league contests and conceding no more than one goal per game since early September, they are becoming a difficult team to beat and to score against.

Visiting Bramall Lane will be no easy task for Manchester United as they have already suffered losses at Newcastle, Bournemouth and West Ham this season with just one Premier League victory claimed on their travels. That win was earned at out-of-form Norwich via a 3-1 scoreline while a much-changed team won 2-1 at Chelsea in EFL Cup action. United can be a decent team on their day as when beating Chelsea 4-0 on the opening weekend and denying Liverpool at Old Trafford, but it may be a case of which United team turns up in Sheffield on Sunday.

Team News

Sheffield United have far fewer injury concerns than their visitors, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson is unable to play against his parent club, and John Egan (calf) is a doubtful starter.

Eric Bailly (knee), Paul Pogba (ankle), Scott McTominay (ankle) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (knee) are unlikely to play for Manchester United. Luke Shaw (thigh), Diogo Dalot (groin), Nemanja Matic (unspecified) and Axel Tuanzebe (hip) are all rated doubtful but could still return for this clash.

Prediction

Despite claiming five draws on their Premier League travels this season, Sheffield United have yet to share the points at Bramall Lane while just one competitive home match has featured a two-goal or more winning margin for either team. Manchester United earned score draws in their first two away matches of the campaign, but they have been mainly beset by goal-scoring problems in subsequent matches on the road. United failed to score in three away defeats, but there have been small signs that they are starting to be more productive in front of goal by scoring three times in each of their last two games. As such, the Red Devils may avoid defeat, but a good bet may be for Sheffield United and Manchester United to Draw priced at 11/5 with bet365.

A second pick is for Under 2.5 Goals offered at 4/6 by bet365. In just one competitive game since the beginning of September have more than two goals been scored in a game involving Sheffield United. The Blades have registered four clean sheets in that time. Furthermore, only two of Manchester United’s nine competitive away matches have featured more than two goals. Therefore, a close game with a few goals is the more likely outcome.