Still in search of their first Premier League victory this season, Sheffield United, currently rooted at the bottom of the table, is set to face a resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers team at Bramall Lane this Saturday.
The South Yorkshire club is gearing up for a showdown against their West Midlands counterparts, marking their first encounter since a 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round defeat away from home in January the previous year.
Match Preview
Having secured their sole point of the 2023-24 Premier League season in a 2-2 draw with Everton at the start of September, Sheffield United’s fortunes have taken a sharp downturn. They’ve endured six consecutive defeats and have conceded a league-leading 22 goals.
Their recent humiliation at the hands of Arsenal, with a 5-0 drubbing at the Emirates Stadium, has further exacerbated the pressure on head coach Paul Heckingbottom.
Injuries have plagued Sheffield United this season, but their prospects of staying in the top flight look bleak.
They currently find themselves five points adrift of 17th-placed Bournemouth, with Everton and Nottingham Forest also significantly ahead.
Heckingbottom aims for a turnaround in form as Sheffield United faces teams that finished in the bottom half or secured promotion from the second tier in three of their next four fixtures.
However, a victory this Saturday won’t come easy as Sheffield United has won just one of their last six meetings with Wolves in all competitions.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, on the other hand, arrive at Bramall Lane with a five-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League, their longest such run since 2020.
This includes wins against Manchester City and Bournemouth, along with draws against Luton Town, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United.
Mario Lemina, with his first goal for Wolves, scored between two Callum Wilson strikes, and Hwang Hee-chan’s sixth consecutive league goal at Molineux led to a 2-2 draw against Newcastle last weekend.
Despite concerns that Wolves might struggle this season, they currently sit 12th, seven points clear of the relegation zone, and a win could propel them to eighth place.
Wolves have a strong record against Sheffield United, having won their last three league meetings, including a 2-0 victory at Bramall Lane in September 2020.
Team News
Injuries continue to plague Sheffield United, with striker Oli McBurnie ruled out for several weeks.
Several other players, including Chris Basham, John Egan, Max Lowe, and others, are also sidelined.
George Baldock aims to make a starting lineup return, while Cameron Archer could replace Rhian Brewster in attack.
James McAtee and Gustavo Hamer are set to provide creativity in midfield.
Wolves will be without star winger Pedro Neto due to a hamstring injury, and Hugo Bueno is also nursing a hamstring problem.
However, they have quality options to fill the gaps, with Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha being potential replacements.
The match promises to be an exciting clash between two teams with different objectives this season.
Predicted Lineups:
Sheffield United:
- Foderingham;
- Bogle, Trusty, Robinson, Thomas;
- Souza, Norwood, Slimane;
- McAtee, Hamer;
- Archer
Wolverhampton Wanderers:
- Sa;
- Kilman, Dawson, Toti;
- Semedo, Traore, Lemina, Ait-Nouri;
- Cunha, Kalajdzic, Hwang
Prediction:
Wolves have shown vulnerability in defense recently, having conceded in their last eight games.
Sheffield United, desperate for their first win, has the potential to capitalize on this.
However, Wolverhampton Wanderers should have enough quality to secure all three points in South Yorkshire.
- Our Prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
