Sheffield United will play hosts to Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane on Thursday evening hoping to return to winning ways in the Premier League. The Blades will come into this game low on confidence after suffering three successive losses in domestic competitions. In contrast, Spurs are enjoying a decent run of form having secured a comfortable 2-0 win over West Ham United last week. Both teams will go all out in search of the three points, so we can expect to see a few goals at South Yorkshire in midweek.
Talking Tactics
Chris Wilder will opt for a 3-5-2 formation and might make one change to his first-team for this clash at home. He will instruct his players to maintain a high line and physically overpower the opposition all across the pitch.
Jose Mourinho will stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and might bring back Steven Bergwijn to his starting XI for this upcoming encounter versus the Blades. He will hope that his players can defend well and hit the home team when they least expect it with the pace of Bergwijn and Heung-min Son on the counter.
Team News
Sheffield United
John Lundstram and Jack O’Connell are both slight doubts for this game. Otherwise, Wilder should have a strong squad to choose from heading into this midweek showdown against Spurs.
Sheffield United Predicted XI
Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick
Tottenham Hotspur
Troy Parrott is a significant concern for this contest while both Juan Foyth and Japhet Tanganga misses out due to injury. Mourinho will still be expected to name his strongest team for this encounter away at South Yorkshire.
Tottenham Hotspur Predicted XI
Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Bergwijn, Alli, Son, Kane
Key Men
Sheffield United
David McGoldrick produced a brilliant display against Arsenal despite ending up on the losing side in the FA Cup last weekend. Hence, Wilder will expect him to put in another productive display alongside Oliver McBurnie up top. Both George Baldock and Enda Stevens will have to work their socks off to stop the Tottenham wingers from dominating out on the wide positions.
Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane will yet again be Mourinho’s main man in the final third. The English striker scored an amazing goal in his last league outing, so he will fancy his chances of finding the back of the net versus the Blades on Thursday. The defensive performance of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez could go a long way in determining the outcome of this match, so they would both need to be at the top of their game this week.
Odds
The bookmakers have made Tottenham the favourites to emerge victorious at Bramall Lane after they were priced at 19/20. The draw has been listed as 12/5 while the Blades are priced at 16/5 to claim maximum points at home later this week.
