Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace predictions: Weakened Blades face tough start
- Palace lost only two of their final 10 Premier League games last season
- Palace have won their last two meetings with Sheffield United to nil
- Recommended bet: Crystal Palace to win
Sheffield United are back in the Premier League after a two-season absence but face a tough opening game at home to Crystal Palace.
The Blades chased home Burnley in the Championship last season, collecting 91 points and winning 28 of their 46 league fixtures.
However, there has been plenty of change at Bramall Lane over the summer and their new arrivals must try and rise to the occasion with star men Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge having left for pastures new.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side must also adjust to the tougher opposition and in Crystal Palace they face a team that finished last term with their tails up.
The Eagles lost only two of their final 10 Premier League matches to end the campaign in 11th and, on the back of that strong finish, they have extended the stay of Roy Hogdson for another year.
Team news
Sheffield United have a number of injury worries with John Fleck, Rhian Brewster, Ismaila Coulibaly, Jayden Bogle and Rhys Norrington-Davies all ruled out.
Oliver Norwood, Oliver McBurnie and Daniel Jebbison will also have late fitness tests.
Palace are embarking on the new season without Wilfried Zaha who, after eight years in his second spell with the Eagles, has left for Galatasaray.
With Michael Olise injured and unlikely to be available until late September, Eberechi Eze is expected to be Palace’s shining light.
New signing Matheus Franca will have to wait to make his debut as he is carrying an injury and Will Hughes is a serious doubt.
Full-back Tyrick Mitchell, however, is expected to shake off a knock and feature.
The stats
Sheffield United won 14 of their final 16 home games last season, but they lost 13 of their 19 fixtures at Bramall Lane when last in the Premier League in 2020-21.
Ndiaye was the leading scorer for Sheffield United in the Championship with 14 goals, but he has since left for Marseille.
Crystal Palace lost 10 of their 19 Premier League away games last term, but they improved markedly following Hodgson’s return in March.
The Eagles lost only two of their final 10 league outings, winning away games at Leeds and Southampton during that period.
Crystal Palace completed a Premier League double over Sheffield United in 2020-21, winning both outings 2-0.
One or both teams have failed to score in eight of the last nine meetings between the sides.
Prediction
Sheffield United have made five new signings but those arrivals have come at a cost with Ndiaye and Berge, arguably their most two influential players, leaving for greater opportunities.
With a number of injuries also to manage, it may take time for the Blades to find their feet.
That provides Palace, who made great strides under Hogdson’s care, with an excellent opportunity in this campaign opener.
Zaha has moved on but in Eze they have someone capable of filling the void instantly and they did the double over the Blades in 2020-21.
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