Sheffield United v Manchester United: Premier League predictions, free tips & TV

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

Where to watch

Amazon Prime Video, 8pm Thursday

Best bets

Both teams to score
2pts 21-20 Hills

Harry Maguire first goalscorer
0.5pt each-way 25-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Sheffield United
Defender Jack O'Connell remains sidelined and striker Oli McBurnie (shoulder) is likely to miss out.

Manchester United
Edinson Cavani is a slight doubt but Anthony Martial is fully fit and pushing for a recall to the starting 11.

Match preview

When Sheffield United travelled to Old Trafford in June, the official Manchester United website billed it as a "match against our fellow top-four contenders".

Less than six months later, the Blades have made the worst start to a Premier League season, taking just one point from their first 12 matches before Thursday's home fixture against the Red Devils.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, in contrast, have a perfect record away from home in the league this term, winning five out of five, and they are just 1-2 to take maximum points at Bramall Lane.

As always with Ole at the wheel, there have been some bumps along the way for United and they have had to come from behind in all five of their away wins this term.

They were 2-0 down at half-time against in-form Southampton last month before winning 3-2 thanks to a late brace from Edinson Cavani and they rattled in three goals in 13 second-half minutes to seal a 3-1 win at West Ham in their most recent domestic trip.

Despite those stirring comebacks, Solskjaer remains under pressure following United's Champions League exit at RB Leipzig when they once again shipped early goals on their way to a 3-2 defeat.

An attacking unit orchestrated by the inspirational Bruno Fernandes should be too sharp for the struggling Blades but United's leaky defence and the home side's desperation for points means the odds-against about both teams scoring is tempting.

The bet has copped in five of Sheffield United's last nine games: the 2-1 defeats to Arsenal, Liverpool and Leicester, a 4-1 loss to Chelsea, and the 1-1 draw at home to Fulham.

Wilder's men had 21 attempts on goal in the 1-0 defeat at West Brom at the end of November and they are not going to draw their way out of trouble after such a shocking start so they must be positive.

This fixture last season ended in a 3-3 draw with Oli McBurnie scoring a late equaliser after the visitors had come from 2-0 down to lead 3-2.

That was a rare defensive blip from a Sheffield United defence who conceded six goals in two games against the Red Devils and just 33 in 36 matches against the rest of the top flight.

Those high standards have slipped this season and the Blades have been particularly vulnerable defending set pieces.

Former Sheffield United centre-back Harry Maguire has scored only once in the Premier League this season, in the 4-1 win at Newcastle, but he is the prime target for Manchester United's dead-ball situations.

Maguire scored in England's friendly win over Ireland last month and averages 1.5 attempts on goal per game in the Premier League so he is worth a small each-way bet to open the scoring.

Key stat

Five of Manchester United's six Premier League wins have come away from home this season.

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