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Premier League | Gameweek 5
Sep 14, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
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Preview: Sheffield United vs. Southampton - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Sheffield United vs. Southampton - prediction, team news, lineups: ID:371226: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Sheffield United and Southampton, including predictions, team news and lineups.

Sheffield United and Southampton return to Premier League action on Saturday having taken points off two of the division's big sides in their last games before the international break.

Chris Wilder's Blades came back to draw with Chelsea, while the Saints' match with Manchester United finished 1-1, despite Ralph Hasenhuttl's side finishing the game with 10 men.

One point currently separates the two sides in the table after four games and both will enter the fixture at Bramall Lane hoping to pick up their second win of the season.


Match Preview

United, like their fellow promoted sides Aston Villa and Norwich City, have been a breath of fresh air in England's top flight this season because they have stuck to the principles that guided them from mid-table in League One to the Premier League.

Wilder's team have continued to operate a 3-4-1-2 formation that allows them to soak up pressure with a low block before attacking in numbers and with real width thanks to the overlapping runs of central defenders Jack O'Connell and Chris Basham.

That system has yielded points against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Chelsea and it could well be effective against a Southampton side who have previously struggled to break down teams set up to play on the counter.

Hasenhuttl's Saints are yet to really hit top-speed in this campaign and their composure at the back, which has been shaky at times this season, will be heavily tested by a United side who have created numerous good chances in all of their games so far.

Although Southampton will definitely be without Nathan Redmond due to his ongoing ankle problems, there are some factors working in the South Coast side's favour for their first Premier League trip to Bramall Lane in over 15 years.

Ryan Bertrand looks as though he will be fit enough to return to the side in place of Kevin Danso and the England international will give the Saints width, creativity and defensive stability down the left.

Similarly, exciting Malian winger Moussa Djenepo also looks as though he will be available and his pace will be a key asset, probably from the bench, if Hasenhuttl's side are to get in behind United and cause them some serious problems.

Scoring has been Southampton's biggest issue on previous visits to the Steel City, as they have only scored in one of their previous five league visits to Bramall Lane, but they will be bolstered by the fact that Wilder's men have conceded in four of their five matches this season.

This weekend's game will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides since December 2014, when the Blades, then in League One, beat the Saints 1-0 in a League Cup quarter-final.

Sheffield United form (all competitions): DWLWD

Southampton form (all competitions): LLWWD


Team News

Sheffield United have an almost fully-fit squad to choose from, although strikers Callum Robinson and David McGoldrick both picked up knocks on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Former Preston frontman Robinson is the more likely of the two to be fit and if he is available he will be expected to start alongside Scotland's Oliver McBurnie.

If, however, Robinson and McGoldrick are unable to start the game, it could mean a first league start of the season for Blades talisman Billy Sharp.

The most notable absentee for the Saints will be Redmond, who is not expected to be considered for first-team action for at least another week or so.

Kevin Danso is suspended after his red card at St Mary's last time out, but former Chelsea defender Bertrand should be able to slot back into the team in his place. Should Bertrand not be fit enough to start, Hasenhuttl can call on either Maya Yoshida or academy product Jake Vokins.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Basham, Egan, O'Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Freeman, Stevens; Robinson, McBurnie

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Cedric, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Romeu; Ward-Prowse, Boufal; Adams, Ings


We say: Sheffield United 1-1 Southampton

It is hard to bet against the Blades at Bramall Lane but Southampton have got some real pace and creativity going forward and they probably have enough to take a point back to the South Coast from this fixture.



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6Middlesbrough178362920927
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22Hull City173681623-715
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