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Preview: Manchester United vs. Sheffield United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Sheffield United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Manchester United take on Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening in a clash between top and bottom in the Premier League.

The Red Devils head into the midweek round of fixtures sitting at the summit, while their opponents are at the foot of the division with one win from 19 matches.


Match preview

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup on January 24, 2021© Reuters

Man United maintained their good form with a 3-2 win over rivals Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes yet again stepping up with the winner.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have now lost just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions, winning nine of those.

In the league, meanwhile, it is 13 games without defeat for United, most recently seeing off Fulham 2-1 last week through goals from Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba.

It is a run that has seen them move into top spot, two points ahead of Manchester City after playing a game more.

City have a chance to leapfrog their neighbours on Tuesday when travelling to West Bromwich Albion, but United will be confident of responding against out-of-form Sheff Utd.

Sheffield United's Billy Sharp celebrates scoring their second goal on January 23, 2021© Reuters

The Blades may have won three of their last four, but two of those victories have come against lower-league opponents in the FA Cup.

Chris Wilder's men have collected just five points from a possible 57 in the league and remain on course to go down with the lowest points tally in Premier League history.

They lost 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in their most recent top-flight outing, while away from home they have avoided defeat just three times in their last 15 matches.

If that was not bad enough for the Yorkshire side, they have lost their last seven away league encounters with Man United in a run stretching back to August 1975.

Everything points towards what should be a routine victory for the Red Devils, then, as they look to make it five home league wins in their last six games.

Manchester United Premier League form: DWWWDW
Manchester United form (all competitions): LWWDWW

Sheffield United Premier League form: DLLLWL
Sheffield United form (all competitions): LLWWLW



Team News

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is substituted after picking up an injury against Paris Saint-Germain on December 2, 2020© Reuters

Marcus Rashford sustained a knock late on against Liverpool at the weekend and, while the issue is not thought to be serious, the forward is unlikely to be risked on Wednesday.

Anthony Martial is expected to come into the side for Rashford, while Fernandes is among those likely to be restored to the XI after being named on the bench last time out.

This game does provide Solskjaer with a chance to rotate his side slightly, however, meaning that Pogba may be given a breather.

As for the visitors, they could be without as many as six first-team players as Sander Berge, Jack Robinson, Oli McBurnie, Jack O'Connell and Ben Osborn are all injured.

Lys Mousset has a chance of being fit, though David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp are favourites to lead the line at Old Trafford.

Full-back George Baldock was brought on as a substitute in the FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle and is among those pushing for a recall to the XI here.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Martial; Cavani

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Basham, Egan, Ampadu; Bogle, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; McGoldrick, Sharp


SM words green background

We say: Manchester United 3-0 Sheffield United

Sheffield United fail to do well against Manchester United at the best of times, picking up only one point from their past eight top-flight meetings, and the sides' form this season could not be more contrasting.

The Red Devils are flying high at the top, whereas the Blades are bottom, so we can only see this one ending in a straightforward home victory.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:432094:cQx

How you voted: Man Utd vs Sheff Utd

Manchester United
89.0%
Draw
5.0%
Sheffield United
6.0%
317
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Danny Welbeck and Jack O'Connell in action on October 5, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City19125236132341
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd20124437271040
3Leicester CityLeicester20123536221439
4Liverpool20107340231737
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham2010553024635
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1996434201433
7Everton1810352922733
8Chelsea2086633231030
9Arsenal209382620630
10Aston Villa1892733211229
11Southampton198562724329
12Leeds UnitedLeeds198293235-326
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves206592129-823
14Crystal Palace206592436-1223
15Burnley196491324-1122
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2054111934-1519
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton203982229-718
18Fulham1927101527-1213
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2025131548-3311
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2022161233-218

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