Chelsea v Sheffield United predictions: Blues can knock out bewildered Blades

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Chelsea v Sheffield United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

BBC1, 1.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Chelsea & under 2.5 goals
1pt 9-4 BoyleSports

Team news

Chelsea
Thiago Silva (thigh) remains out and Andreas Christensen (illness) is a doubt. Tammy Abraham (ankle) may not be risked, but Mason Mount and Jorginho are available after European suspensions.

Sheffield United
On-loan defender Ethan Ampadu is not available to face his parent club, while John Egan, Sander Berge, Jack O'Connell and Jack Robinson are long-term absentees. David McGoldrick (knee) could feature.

Match preview

Thomas Tuchel's impressive start at Chelsea continues and the German maestro can guide his side into the semi-finals of the FA Cup at the expense of Sheffield United.

Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League extended Tuchel's unbeaten record to 13 matches in all competitions and it was another defensive masterclass from the Blues.

Chelsea have conceded just two goals since the former Paris Saint-Germain boss took the reins and they are on a run of six straight clean sheets, keeping out Manchester United, Liverpool and Atleti during that run.

The huge improvement at the back has seen a slight decrease in productivity at the other end of the pitch, with the Blues netting just 15 times in their last 13 matches.

Chelsea have failed to score more than twice in a game under Tuchel's supervision and that statistic is unlikely to change this weekend, despite them playing rock-bottom Sheffield United.

It is just a matter of time before the Blades' relegation to the Championship is confirmed and their surprise run to the FA Cup quarter-finals is the only comfort they can take from a dismal season.

Chris Wilder's departure was confirmed on the eve of last weekend's trip to Leicester, who thrashed United 5-0 to compound the Steel City outfit's misery.

Interim boss Paul Heckingbottom faces a big job to pick his side up and a trip to Stamford Bridge, where they haven't triumphed since October 1992, is the last thing they needed.

The Blades are the lowest-scorers in the Premier League this term, netting just 16 times, and a failing forward line will find it difficult to break down Chelsea.

United have lost their last four away games to nil and have won just one of their last six league matches – a 1-0 success at home to Aston Villa was the only victory during that run.

In some crumb of comfort for the Blades, barring that thrashing by the Foxes, they were at least keeping the scores down and their four matches prior to that mauling had under 2.5 goals.

With Chelsea looking rock-solid at the back and United's confidence at an all-time low, backing the hosts to win and under 2.5 goals looks to be the best bet.

Key stat

All four of Chelsea's home victories under Thomas Tuchel have had under 2.5 goals.

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