Premier League: Can Understaffed Red Devils Fend Off Blunt Blades?

Manchester United vs Sheffield United

Manchester United are in a very vulnerable spot in the Premier League standings. With 50 points garnered, Ten Hag’s men are in danger of slipping down the table due to West Ham and Chelsea’s close proximity, coupled with their long injury list.

Luckily for the Red Devils and their fans, their next top-flight fixture will be against relegation-bound Sheffield United. The Blades are pushed even further down the relegation hole after their humbling defeat against fellow basement boys Burnley.

Despite Manchester United’s injuries, Sheffield United will still have a tall order at Old Trafford, as Red Devils fans could give their boys a hero’s welcome after their stunning win in the FA Cup semifinals.

Talking Points

Can Manchester United survive the season amidst injury plague?

The Red Devils have booked themselves their FA Cup finals ticket after beating Coventry at Wembley a few days ago. Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes seemingly secured Manchester United’s victory as they scored one goal each to put their side up three goals within 58 minutes, but Coventry managed to level the game thanks to a spirited run in the dying minutes of the match.

United sealed the deal, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring the winning penalty. The Red Devils now prepare to face their neighbouring rivals, Manchester City, in the final at Wembley next month.

However, Erik ten Hag now has to deal with a plethora of injuries to stay afloat in the Premier League and their upcoming bout against Sheffield United, a must-win fixture to stay within European contention.

Marcus Rashford is one of the latest, and maybe the biggest, names added to the Red Devils injury list. Their No. 10 was taking off the pitch in the second half of their match against Coventry due to what appeared to be a “fitness issue.”  His return date is still unknown, so SBOTOP Manchester United fans should prepare for the possibility of their star forward being absent during their top-flight clash with the Blades.

Other notable names on Ten Hag’s injury list are Willy Kambwala, Mason Mount, Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, and Anthony Martial, to name a few.

Sheffield stuck in the basement

With just 16 points garnered this season thus far, Sheffield United are almost a sure relegation team once the 2023–24 campaign is done and dusted.

They’ve been one of the basement staples in the top flight this season, and they never rallied consistent Premier League 2024 results to get them out of the relegation zone.

The recently promoted Sheffield will find their way back to the Championship, where they finished second during the 2022–23 season, trailing Burnley by 10 points.

It’s worth mentioning that these relegation candidates recently faced each other last weekend at Bramall Lane. It was a must-win victory for both clubs, but it was Vincent Kompany’s boys who claimed the much-needed points with a commanding 1-4 performance.

With that win, Burnley keep their chances of avoiding relegation, as they’re now just three points behind 17^th-placed Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, the Blades were pushed even further towards relegation, extending their winless streak to nine games.

History

There have only been eight matches between the Red Devils and the Blades since 2006. Among those head-to-heads, Manchester United have bossed their way with six wins, while Sheffield have only claimed one win and one draw.

However, their last three contests were pretty competitive, with Manchester United winning all three games with just a one-goal advantage.

In recent form, Sheffield United may be the worst outfit in the Premier League this season. They’ve been without a win in their last nine games and have recently been thrashed by fellow relegation candidates Burnley with a 1-4 score line in front of their fans at Bramall Lane.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are fresh from a pivotal semifinal win against Championship side Coventry in the FA Cup. Despite this, the Red Devils have been tepid in the top flight, winning just one game in their last five, garnering just six points to boot.

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2024 betting odds have this match with Manchester United written all over them. Despite their injury woes, the Red Devils are the favourites to win at 1.31, while the lowly Blades are slapped with 6.60 to win and 5.30 to draw.

A notable line to consider is Manchester United’s Asian Handicap of -1.50 at 1.82. That’s the sweet spot in terms of value and excitement among the handicap lines, but with Sheffield’s struggles to score and Manchester United’s star players unlikely to suit up, there might not be that many goals to go around during their match.

Which is why my betting tip is total goals under 3.50 at 1.93.

 

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