Sheffield United will be looking for their first win when they visit West Ham United in the Premier League. In the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, the Irons defeated Lincoln City 1-0. The Blades were thoroughly humiliated in their previous matchup by Newcastle United, losing 8-0.
Preview (West Ham United vs. Sheffield United)
Lincoln City’s victory over Sheffield United in the second round extended their EFL Cup run. The League One crop gave West Ham a fair fight on Wednesday before being again denied by Lukasz Fabianski. With 70 minutes remaining, West Ham finally broke through when Tomas Soucek headed home. They will face London rivals Arsenal at home in an even tougher test. West Ham has corrected Premier League errors with knockout victories, as was the case in the 2022–23 season. They overcame Backa Topola in their Europa League debut in between 3–1 Premier League defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City, despite taking the lead against the Citizens and tying the score against Jurgen Klopp’s team. West Ham dropped to seventh in the rankings after winning nine points in their first four games. Although to the top two teams in the nation at the moment, according to the chart.
After the shocking events of last weekend, no Sheffield United supporter wants to hear that West Ham has scored in all eight of their competitive games this season. West Ham recorded their first clean sheet of the season in midweek. Sheffield United and an under-fire Paul Heckingbottom have had plenty of time to analyze last weekend’s thrashing. It was their biggest home defeat ever in league football.
Paul Heckingbottom, the head coach of Sheffield United, is currently, unsurprisingly, the bookies’ favorite to be the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season. There has even been talk of a reunion with Chris Wilder. Heckingbottom’s position appears to be secure as he tries to orchestrate an immediate revival in the capital. Some Sheffield United fans may appreciate a weekend away from the location of last week’s carnage. Their team has only won two Premier League games away from home since March 2020. They have lost 10 of their previous 11 games in the top tier away from home. Therefore, the Blades’ chances of salvaging this situation may be slim.
Team News
Many first-team players missed West Ham’s trip to Lincoln, which is understandable. Aaron Cresswell is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered a week ago. Moyes may have all of his players available for selection at the London Stadium. Emerson Palmieri will initially plan to explode down that wing. Mohammed Kudus earned his first domestic start for the Irons in the EFL Cup. James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, and Alphonse Areola were entirely rested. The Ghanaian attacker will likely have to wait for his full Premier League debut.
While Daniel Jebbison is currently out due to an unidentified health issue, the Sheffield United physiotherapists are still caring for a number of injured players, including Max Lowe (ankle), Ben Osborn (groin), John Fleck (calf), Rhian Brewster (thigh), and Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh). However, the return of striker Oli McBurnie from a one-game suspension after receiving two yellow cards against Tottenham Hotspur will be a little plus for the Blades.
After last weekend’s humiliation, Heckingbottom should consider a number of changes, with Benie Traore, Tom Davies, Yasser Larouci, Chris Basham, and Auston Trusty perhaps putting their names in the running for starting positions. Although Sheffield United’s injury-depleted team should have little pleasure at the London Stadium against West Ham’s rejuvenated big-hitters, Newcastle’s eight-goal extravaganza should prove to be just a one-off for the Iron. The visitors will not benefit from the uncertainty surrounding the manager’s future, and the Irons will be expected to provide another footballing lesson to their relegation-threatened opponents in order to further endanger Heckingbottom’s employment.
West Ham United 3 – 0 Sheffield United
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