Sheff Utd vs QPR predictions: Goals should flow in South Yorkshire

Tom McGarry

Spotlight

It has been a positive start to the new season for Chris Wilder's Sheff Utd

- Sheff Utd conceded a Premier League record 104 goals last season
- Over 3.5 goals has occurred in 17 of the Blades' last 22 matches
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals

Sheffield United will be looking to make it three wins from three to start the new season when they welcome QPR to Bramall Lane in the Championship on Saturday.

The Blades appear to have quickly shaken off talk of a hangover from last season's relegation after following up a 2-0 league win at Preston on the opening day by coming from behind to beat Wrexham 4-2 in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Next up is a home clash with a QPR side that were beaten 3-1 by West Brom in their Championship opener, but have since responded by securing cup progress at the expense of League One Cambridge.

Team news

Sheff Utd manager Chris Wilder changed his entire XI for Tuesday's cup success over Wrexham, but he is expected to field a similar looking team to the one that started against Preston, with the likes of Ollie Arblaster, Kieffer Moore and Gustavo Hamer pushing for recalls.

There could be a change in goal though, with Michael Cooper having arrived from Plymouth during the week and he may go straight into the starting XI.

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes also made changes during the week and could revert back to the side that lost to West Brom on the opening weekend, with key players Morgan Fox and Ilias Chair remaining sidelined through injury.

The Hoops could hand debuts to new signings Karamoko Dembele and Koki Saito at some stage, with the pair having recently joined on season-long loans from Brest and Lommel respectively.

The latest Sheff Utd vs QPR odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Sheff Utd finished rock bottom of the Premier League last season, picking up just three wins and 16 points, while they conceded a record 104 goals.

The Blades have only lost one of their last seven meetings with QPR, although that defeat did come the last time the two sides locked horns at Bramall Lane in October 2022 – Chris Willock scored the only goal for the visitors that day.

QPR were deep in relegation trouble when Cifuentes arrived at the club last October, but the Spaniard comfortably kept them in the division as they eventually finished 18th.

Over 3.5 goals have been scored in 17 of Sheff Utd's 22 competitive matches this calendar year, while two of QPR's last three Championship games have gone beyond that threshold.

Marti Cifuentes impressed in the QPR dugout last season

Prediction

There was plenty of doom and gloom surrounding Sheff Utd at the end of last season, while the news they would start this campaign with a two-point deduction also would not have helped matters, but it is a credit to Wilder and his players they have started so strongly.

It is easy to forget that this is a Blades side that accumulated 91 points on their way to automatic promotion from the Championship just two seasons ago and they will fancy their chances of winning this one at 7/10 with LiveScore Bet, but there could be more value in looking at the goals markets.

Not only did Sheff Utd concede a Premier League record 104 goals last season, but 17 of their 22 competitive games in 2024 have yielded over 3.5 goals, including Tuesday's cup success over Wrexham.

They did keep their first clean sheet since January against Preston, but they were perhaps fortunate to do so given the hosts had more shots, with eight of their 12 efforts coming inside the penalty area.

QPR are also no strangers to high-scoring games, with four goals having been scored in two of their last three league fixtures, including last weekend's 3-1 home loss to West Brom.

All that suggests there could be plenty of entertainment on offer at Bramall Lane this weekend and it is a match that could easily go beyond the three-goal mark.

Back over 3.5 goals in the match at 19/10 with LiveScore Bet