Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English Premier League
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd on and what time does it start? Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd will take place on Saturday 16th December, 2023 – 15:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd on in the UK? Television rights for the Premier League in the UK are shared between Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime so it is worth checking their schedules for Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd
Where can I stream Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd in the UK? If Chelsea vs Sheffield Utd is televised, then it can be streamed on either Sky Go, discovery+ or Amazon Prime Video depending on who is broadcasting the match
THE LOWDOWN
CHELSEA
Mauricio Pochettino is coming under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea’s bizarre transfer and recruitment policy producing an unbalanced squad lacking quality in key areas and being shown up consistently as it was last weekend when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park against Everton.
The two-time European champions have failed to win 35 of their last 45 Premier League matches and begin the weekend sitting in the bottom half of the table. They come into this one on the back of just one win in their last five matches with three defeats in their last four, too, as they continue to underwhelm and underperform.
SHEFFIELD UTD
At the start of last week, Sheffield Utd decided to part company with Paul Heckingbottom and replace him with the man that got them promoted to the top-flight in 2019, Chris Wilder. Wilder took charge of their 0-2 defeat at home to Liverpool that midweek where there were some signs of improvement and that improvement then produced a result a few days later.
The Blades edged past an out of form Brentford by a goal to nil thanks to a stunner from on-loan James McAtee. That was just their second victory of the season and they remain in the bottom three and the relegation places but they will believe that Wilder can create some sort of impetus and intensity that keeps them competitive down at the bottom end.
THE TEAM NEWS
CHELSEA
There are fresh injury concerns for Mauricio Pochettino to deal with as defensive trio Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella and Reece James have all been added to what has been an extensive injury list throughout the season.
On a more positive note, though, defender Malo Gusto has returned to full training this week whilst their marquee summer signing, Christopher Nkunku, is also in full training and could make his competitive Chelsea debut this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Silva, Disasi, Colwill; Gallagher, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Sterling; Jackson
UNAVAILABLE: Sanchez (Injured), Fofana (Injured), Chalobah (Injured), James (Injured), Cucurella (Injured), Chilwell (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Ugochukwu (Injured), Chukwuemeka (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Madueke (Injured)
SHEFFIELD UTD
Chris Wilder confirmed that he is able to welcome back four first-teamers into the fold for this weekend with Oli McBurnie, Ben Osborn, Ollie Norwood and George Baldock all available for the Yorkshiremen.
They will, though, be without defender Jack Robinson who is suspended, as well as his defensive partners Chris Basham and John Egan, who remain injured. Wing-back Rhys Norrington-Davies and striker Rhian Brewster have returned to light training but remain unavailable for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-1-1): Foderingham; Baldock, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Bogle, Norwood, Hamer, Vinicius Souza, Brooks; McAtee; Archer
UNAVAILABLE: Basham (Injured), Egan (Injured), Robinson (Suspended), Davies (Injured), Norrington-Davies (Injured), Jebbison (Injured), Brewster (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
As bad as it has been at Stamford Bridge, this is one they surely cannot lose. Chelsea have put in some genuinely impressive performances at times this season before taking giant leaps back as they struggle for any sort of consistency. They face a Sheffield Utd side that will have a newfound energy about them as they seek to assert themselves in the capital, potentially drawing on the experience of sharing a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at the Bridge back in the 2019-20 campaign, following promotion. However, Chelsea should have the edge in a game that United make intentionally cagey.
TIP: CHELSEA TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
