Sheffield United play host to Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon with the opportunity to move within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League standings.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth make the trip to Bramall Lane looking to move clear of the relegation zone with their third successive win in the top flight.

Match preview

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder peers at the action on February 1, 2020 © Reuters

Having enjoyed a remarkable six months back in the Premier League, there will be some who are expecting Sheffield United to tail off towards the end of the campaign with relegation unlikely to enter their thought process.

However, there is an argument that Chris Wilder and his first-team squad will be at their most dangerous when having nothing to lose in the race to achieve a European place next season, with the Champions League not out of the question.

Success over the Cherries this weekend will move the Blades ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, as well as to within two points of the top four.

With Sunday's game being followed by two more home matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City, United have been provided with, on paper, a perfect set of fixtures to heap the pressure on the bigger clubs around them.

While goals are proving to be a problem in the final third, their resolve at the back could prove more decisive, and they remain with the second best backline in the division.

The same cannot be said of Bournemouth, who have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 outings in the Premier League, but there are signs that Eddie Howe's team are in the right frame of mind to put together a much-needed improved run of form.

The south coast outfit would have been aware that the stakes were high when hosting Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa, two other clubs who are striving to move clear of the bottom three as soon as possible.

However, in both fixtures, Bournemouth netted twice in quick succession before half time, and it proved to be pivotal as they claimed maximum points at the Vitality Stadium.

That return has at least provided Howe and his players with a bit of breathing space ahead of what has become a difficult trip for every club this season, a factor which could finally allow them to play with more freedom for the first time since occupying a mid-table spot at the beginning of November.

Sheffield United Premier League form: LLWDLW
Sheffield United form (all competitions): WWDLWW

Bournemouth Premier League form: LLLLWW
Bournemouth form (all competitions): WLLWLW

Team News

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe before the match on January 21, 2020 © Reuters

Howe's selection problems have been dealt a further blow with Jefferson Lerma having to serve a one-match ban due to his sending-off last weekend.

While Joshua King is close to a return from injury, Howe is likely to stick with same 4-3-3 formation which was used against Villa, with Lewis Cook coming in to replace Lerma.

United boss Wilder may opt to keep the same starting lineup which began the 1-0 success at Crystal Palace.

January arrival Sander Berge impressed on his debut, leaving John Lundstram to remain among the replacements.

Lys Mousset is an alternative to Billy Sharp if Wilder decides to shake up his attack.

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

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Smith, Francis, Ake, Rico; Gosling, Billing, L.Cook; H.Wilson, C.Wilson, Fraser

We say: Sheffield United 2-0 Bournemouth

While Bournemouth will travel to Yorkshire full of confidence, we cannot back against a Sheffield United side in front of their own supporters. It may be cagey for a time, but the Blades should be too strong for the Cherries.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a win with a probability of 52.61%. A draw had a probability of 24.7% and a win for had a probability of 22.66%.

The most likely scoreline for a win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.02%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (9.79%) and 2-1 (9.57%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (11.75%), while for a win it was 0-1 (7.22%).