Sheffield United play host to Everton in the Premier League on Monday evening looking to boost their hopes of qualifying for next season's Europa League.

Meanwhile, the Toffees make the trip to Bramall Lane keen to end a four-match winless streak, while also bidding to remain ahead of 12th-placed Southampton in the standings.

Match preview

Having witnessed Sheffield United suffer a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Leicester City on Thursday evening, Chris Wilder was refreshingly honest about the performance of his side.

However, Wilder will hope that pulling no punches acts as the catalyst for an improved showing against their next opponents as they bid to return to the top seven in the table.

While there is an insistence that the Yorkshire outfit have enjoyed an outstanding season regardless of whether they qualify for Europe, Wilder may feel that opportunities such as the one in front of them may not come around again for some time.

That will be his message to a squad which had impressed before the setback at Leicester, recording invaluable victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea.

With a trip to Southampton to follow and with Wolves facing an end-of-season visit to the latter of those teams, everyone associated with Sheffield United will be aware that two more victories may be enough for them to take a fresh step forward in their history.

Although Everton have very little to play for, Carlo Ancelotti will stress to his players that they are fighting for their futures after a poor run of results.

Just two points - from home draws against Southampton and Aston Villa respectively - have been collected from their last four games, with the manner of the defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers highlighting that the Merseyside outfit are some way off challenging for the top six next season.

Despite under-performing against relegation-threatened Villa on Thursday night, Ancelotti will have been satisfied that his players kept fighting to claim a late share of the spoils.

However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has gone eight games without finding the back of the net, something which only add to his motivation ahead of squaring off against his former club.

Sheffield United Premier League form: LWDWWL

Everton Premier League form: WWLDLD

Team News

With Mason Holgate having suffered a recurrence of a previous injury against Villa, Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to make his first Premier League start for Everton.

With Yerry Mina also unlikely to be fit, it effectively takes away the option of switching to a back three, a formation which failed to work against Wolves earlier this month.

Theo Walcott, who scored from the substitutes' bench in midweek, and Alex Iwobi could be given responsibility on the flanks.

Wilder will inevitably make alterations to his Sheffield United side, which should include a recall for John Fleck.

Lys Mousset and Billy Sharp are both pushing for a starting role ahead of David McGoldrick.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Basham, Egan, O'Connell; Baldock, Fleck, Norwood, Berge, Stevens; McBurnie, Mousset

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Branthwaite, Keane, Digne; Walcott, Davies, Gomes, Iwobi; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

We say: Sheffield United 3-1 Everton

While these teams endured contrasting emotions at the end of their last outing, we feel that the roles will be reversed on Monday evening. Wilder will expect a much-improved performance from his players, and the home team could have far too much for opposition who cannot wait for the end of the campaign.