Team news
- Chelsea
• Billy Gilmour is out for the remainder of the season after knee surgery.
• N'Golo Kante is also out but the Blues welcome back Mateo Kovacic.
- Sheffield
• The Blades are expected to have John Fleck and David McGoldrick back.
• John Lundstram could be also available for selection.
• Midfielder Luke Freeman and striker Leon Clarke remain on the sidelines.
(via Sky Sports)
Stats to know
• Sheffield United have failed to win their last four games against Chelsea, losing three matches.
• Tammy Abraham has scored 3 goals in his 2 league appearances against Sheffield United.
(via Opta)
Probable line-ups
Chelsea: Kepa; James, Zouma, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Barkley, Kovacic, Mount; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic
Sheffield: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O'Connell; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Lundstram, Stevens; McGoldrick, Mousset
(via Tribuna.com)
Score predictions
- Charlie Nicholas, Sky Sports: Sheffield 2-2 Chelsea
"Chelsea could have got five against Crystal Palace but they could have conceded five too. There were mistakes all over the park, and Frank Lampard will be concerned by his defence.
"Andreas Christensen makes mistakes, and so does Kurt Zouma. Reece James is good going forward but he has lots to learn defensively. There are mistakes and goals in Chelsea, but this will be a cracking game."
- Mark Lawrenson, BBC: Sheffield 1-1 Chelsea
"Chelsea's performance against Crystal Palace on Tuesday sort of summed them up for me at the moment - they were good going forward, and they were very average at the back.
"That is just the way Frank Lampard's side are right now. As dangerous as they look in attack, you can get at them too."
Managers' quotes
- Frank Lampard, Chelsea:
"It's easy to bring up momentum and I probably have done because I've been asked about it a lot. But I don't fully believe in it, I believe in the next game that comes.
“So even though we've had some good results of late generally, you're only as good as your next game, that's the important one in front of us, so we are in charge of our own destiny on that side of things. So we're not reverting back to previous results, we're looking to Sheffield United and onwards."
(via Chelsea FC)
- Chris Wilder, Sheffield United:
"It is a huge challenge ahead of us on Saturday evening against a rejuvenated Chelsea under the manager this year.
"I know Frank through our tussles in the Championship. Two really tight games at their place at Derby when they were outstanding in the second half and deservedly beat us and then we had to be at our best to turn them over at Bramall Lane.
"And this season at their place they were really running away with it first half but we had a bit of a shake-up at half-time."
(via Sheffield United)
