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Prediction: Sheffield United vs Leicester City

Veselin Trajkovic in Free Soccer Predictions 23 Aug 2019

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Verdict: Total goals under 2.5

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: Bet365

Sheffield United are poised to welcome Leicester City to the Bramall Lane Stadium on Saturday afternoon, in a game that will be a part of round three of this season’s Premier League. The two sides last met in England’s top flight back in 1976, though they met twice last season in cup competitions. Leicester won on both occasions.

Sheffield United

The Blades followed up on their fantastic season in the Championship with a very good start to the life in the Premier League. Neither Bournemouth nor Crystal Palace managed to get the better of them, and they remain the only newly promoted undefeated team. They sit in eighth place at the moment, though that rarely means much this early into a campaign.

Not wanting to get lulled by Championship success, the club invested a decent amount of money into the team, coupled with a few smart free transfers and loan deals. Thus they gained young players with potential in goalkeeper Dean Hednerson, strikers Oliver McBurnie and Lys Mousset, as well as a few experienced men including the likes of midfielders Luke Freeman and Muhamed Besic, as well as centre-back Phil Jagielka.

Team News

Manager Chris Wilder revealed that Ravel Morisson, who arrived from Swedish side Ostersund for free, probably wouldn’t be ready for this clash. He may make his competitive debut for the club in the Carabao Cup three days later. Midfielder John Fleck is a doubt after going off injured in the victory over Palace, but winger Callum Robinson, who also had to come off in that game, is fit.

Wilder also expressed strong belief that his team wouldn’t get carried away by the good results at the start.

Leicester City

Though it wasn’t that long ago when the Foxes shocked the football world by winning the Premier League (only three years ago), very few players remain from those days. They have managed to establish themselves as a regular top-tier side, as opposed to being relegation candidates as they were before. But they’re making a fresh start under manager Brendan Rodgers, and they’ll be looking to snatch a European place come summer. At the moment, they are 12th after drawing at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers and snatch another point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Leicester managed to secure the services of Youri Tielemans from AS Monaco on a permanent basis after the midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at the King Power Stadium. They signed forward Ayoze Perez from Newcastle, as well as midfielder Denis Praet from Sampdoria. Harry Maguire left to join Manchester United in a world-record deal for a defender, Shinji Okazaki’s contract expired, while striker Islam Slimani and midfielder Andy King left on loan.

Team News

Left-back Ben Chilwell will miss this game with a hip problem, with Christian Fuchs set to take his place in the team again. Chilwell should be fine next week when Leicester face Bournemouth at home.

Rodgers praised his team’s defensive efforts in the opening two games, believing that it is a good base to build on for the season.

Conclusion

All the signs point to a tough game for both sides. There should be plenty of fight in the middle of the pitch, though not too many chances. Rodgers is right, his team are defending well at the moment, but on the other hand, the same can be said of the home side. The winner of this match is hard to call in advance, but it feels like we shouldn’t see too many goals.

Verdict: Total goals under 2.5

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: Bet365

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Veselin Trajkovic


Vesko is a football writer that likes to observe the game for what it is, focusing on teams, players and their roles, formations, tactics, rather than stats. He follows the English Premier League closely, Liverpool FC in particular. His articles have been published on seven different football blogs.

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