Manchester United will look for successive victories in the Premier League when they host Sheffield United. After a losing start, the hosts are positioned at the bottom of the table. The visitors are wallowing in 10th place and are already eight points behind the leaders.
Preview (Sheffield United vs Manchester United)
Sheffield United and Bournemouth are the only two Premier League teams without a win so far this season. They have only amassed one point from their first eight games following their promotion from the Championship. Before the international break, Fulham condemned the Blades to their seventh league loss of the season. However, the defeat was tainted by Chris Basham’s horrific lower leg injury. It will require him to miss a significant amount of time due to two separate surgeries.
Sheffield United is currently the worst-starting Premier League team in history. Should they lose on Saturday, they will become the first team in English top-flight history to have only one point or fewer from their first nine games of multiple seasons, having done so in 2020–21. Paul Heckingbottom has nevertheless urged his team to “enjoy” the challenges that come with playing in the top division and to “enjoy” their Premier League survival struggle. Sheffield United has had a terrible start to the season, but they are only three points outside of safety. If they are to turn things around, they must strengthen their defense. They have let up a league-high 22 goals in their first eight games, conceding two or more goals per game.
Heckingbottom is not the only Premier League manager facing pressure to produce results. The Red Devils’ patchy performance at home is concerning, but they have also performed poorly away from home. Last month, they lost on the road to Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich before narrowly winning 1-0 at newly promoted Burnley. Man United has not yet won a top-flight away game in 2023, but they will fancy their chances this weekend against Sheffield United since they have won the previous six away-from-home games against promoted teams in addition to their previous nine league games against them.
Team News
John Egan (Achilles) and Basham from Sheffield United will be in the treatment room together. Tom Davies will also be sidelined for a considerable amount of time due to an injury. Daniel Jebbison (sickness) is another player who is not eligible for selection. Max Lowe (ankle), George Baldock (calf), William Osula (muscle), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), Ben Osborn (groin), and William Osula (muscle) are all getting close to making a comeback, but Saturday’s game will probably come too soon for the quintet.
James McAtee, a Manchester City loanee, and John Fleck will vie for the starting spot in midfield. Benie Traore will face off against Cameron Archer and Oli McBurnie for the attacking starting spot. Due to a “small issue” that he sustained while playing for Brazil internationally, Casemiro will not be playing for Man United. He will be joining the likes of Lisandro Martinez (foot), Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (both muscles), Tyrell Malacia, Mad Diallo (both knees), and Kathy Mainoo (ankle) on the sidelines.
After pulling out of the Morocco team, Sofyan Amrabat has become doubtful due to an injury, although the midfield player has participated in training. McTominay may start in center midfield instead of Casemiro. Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, and Bruno Fernandes all scored goals for their respective nations earlier this week.
Sheffield United 1 – 3 Manchester United
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