MX23RW : Sunday, April 25 07:40:29| >> :120:31484:31484:

A detailed look at Premier League lineups as Sheffield United switch it up

A lack of consistency in selection may be one of the main reasons for the contrast in United's form compared to last season's settled side.

Sheffield United have yet to name the same line-up in any two games this season as their Premier League struggles continue.

Defeat to Fulham on Saturday left the Blades 14 points adrift of safety with 13 games remaining, and yet to surpass the Premier League's record low points total of 11.

A lack of consistency in selection may be one of the main reasons for the contrast in their form compared to last season's settled side.

Chris Wilder, centre, with his Sheffield United team last season
Chris Wilder, centre, was able to name a settled line-up last season (Catherine Ivill/NMC Pool/PA)

The PA news agency has compiled line-up data for every match of the Premier League era to identify how often a team has named an unchanged side and how often the exact same 11 players have lined up together.

Chris Wilder's side impressed on their top-flight return last season, flirting with the European places for much of the campaign and finishing in the top half.

Their well-established, but unconventional, system was underpinned by a settled line-up with George Baldock, Chris Basham and Enda Stevens ever-present, Oliver Norwood starting 37 games and John Egan and Dean Henderson 36 – Henderson only missing out when ineligible against his parent club Manchester United.

They used only 20 distinct line-ups across their 38 games, the lowest in the Premier League – including the same XI starting seven games together, with the aforementioned players joined by Jack O'Connell, John Fleck, John Lundstram, David McGoldrick and Lys Mousset.

Sheffield United's most-used line-up from 2019-20
The same Sheffield United line-up started seven games together last season (PA graphic)

This season has seen a complete reversal of that trend, with 25 different line-ups in as many games and only Basham and Aaron Ramsdale ever-present.

O'Connell has played only twice, with Egan and midfield regular Sander Berge absent recently. Baldock and Stevens have also missed time, while a contract dispute and a suspension have limited Lundstram's involvement and Mousset has played only six games.

United's erratic approach has left Aston Villa as the top flight's most settled side, naming only 12 distinct line-ups in 23 games.

They have started 10 games with Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Matt Targett, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ross Barkley, Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins and either Trezeguet or Bertrand Traore, the latter pair with five starts each in that line-up.

Leeds and West Ham are closest to matching Villa's consistency but have each used 17 distinct line-ups this season, while the only other clubs to use fewer than 20 are Leicester (18) and Southampton (19).

ID:436412: cacheID:436412:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8120:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Bruno Fernandes scores a penalty for Manchester United against Newcastle United in the Premier League on February 21, 2021
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Fernandes, Rashford, Pickford
>

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
EFL Cup
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Scottish Cup
Turkish Super Lig
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Swedish Allsvenskan
Danish Superliga
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Eerste Divisie
Major League Soccer
Copa Diego Maradona
Liga MX
Australian A-League
J1 League
Women's Super League
Women's Champions League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City33245469244577
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd32199464352966
3Leicester CityLeicester32185958372159
4Chelsea331610751312058
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham331671053431055
6Liverpool33159955391654
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs331581056381853
8Everton32157104440452
9Arsenal33137134437746
10Leeds UnitedLeeds32144145050046
11Aston Villa31135134435944
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32118133241-941
13Crystal Palace31108133352-1938
14Southampton32106164058-1836
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3399153654-1836
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton33713133339-634
17Burnley3289152645-1933
18Fulham33512162543-1827
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom3259182862-3424
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3352261856-3817

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!