Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United

February 2, 2024

Aston Villa face a tricky test of their top-four credentials when they visit relegation-bound Sheffield United at the Bramall Lane on Saturday.

The Blades already held Unai Emery's side to a 1-1 draw at Villa Park just before Christmas, when Nicolò Zaniolo's late equalizer rescued a point for Aston Villa.

All in all, Sheffield United have won their last three home matches against Aston Villa (two of them in the Premier League), with the Villans scoring just one goal in the process.

Sheffield United Betting Preview (+400 at Everygame)

Winless in their last six top-flight matches (losing four) - since the 1-0 home victory over Brentford on 9 December - Sheffield United remain rock-bottom of the Premier League table with just 10 points. Thus, the South Yorkshire outfit have become only the fourth side to have accumulated just ten or fewer points after 22 games of a Premier League campaign.

Chris Wilder's men continue to struggle with the rough Premier League reality and it would be a sensation if they somehow manage to turn their season around and eventually avoid relegation. This seems to be extremely unlikely, though.

The Blades suffered a 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Tuesday evening. Ben Brereton Diaz opened the scoring within 20 seconds and Chris Wilder's side earned a 2-1 lead midway through the first half thanks to James McAtee, but Crystal Palace duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise were too powerful for them.

Remarkably, Sheffield United have scored two or more goals in each of their last four matches in all competitions. Yet, they have lost two in a row - a 5-2 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth-round and a 3-2 league defeat at Crystal Palace in midweek.

Scottish forward Oli McBurnie should keep his starting spot up front, while January arrival Ben Brereton Diaz will also start on the wing, if he's fit. The Chilean forward joined Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season from La Liga side Villarreal and already boasts two goals in his first two Premier League appearances.

However, Brereton Diaz was forced off injured at half-time in midweek, paving the way for Cameron Archer to return to face his boyhood club after scoring at Villa Park in December.

Winter signing Ivo Grbic was forced off early in the second half of Sheffield United's clash against Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening in his Premier League debut. The Croatian goalkeeper joined Sheffield United on 26 January and made his official debut on the next day - in the heavy FA Cup loss against Brighton.

Rhian Brewster was sent off during Sheffield United's 2-2 draw with West Ham United a fortnight ago and the 23-year-old forward is suspended.

Elsewhere, captain John Egan as well as the likes of Chris Basham and George Baldock are all injured for Sheffield United, while Max Lowe and Tom Davies are also doubts.

Aston Villa Betting Preview (-161 at Everygame)

It was exactly the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in December when Aston Villa's unlikely title bid began to fade away, and it showed no real signs of coming back. The Birmingham outfit have won just one of their last five top-flight matches (1-2-2) and are now fifth in the table, level on 43 points with Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

The demise of their title hopes can be mainly attributed to Villa's mediocre away form. Unai Emery's men have won only four of their 11 Premier League away games this term (4-3-4), conceding 19 of their 30 goals away from Villa Park.

The Villans suffered a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Newcastle United in midweek - their first league defeat at Villa Park since last February.

Aston Villa have failed to win any of their last three matches in all competitions and the Villans would be desperate to get back on track when they make the trip to Sheffield this weekend. They are next up against Sheffield United in the Premier League with Unai Emery facing some selection posers.

Villa are set for a challenging schedule in the next eight days. Unai Emery's side are also set for a replay of their FA Cup tie with Chelsea in midweek before they take on Manchester United in the Premier League next weekend.

On a positive note, Ollie Watkins ended his goal drought as the England forward failed to score since he netted the winner for a 2-1 comeback win over his former club Brentford on 17 December.

With 10 goals and 8 assists to his name in 22 league appearances this term, Watkins had reached double figures in the Premier League for the fourth consecutive year since he arrived at Villa Park in September 2020. However, the ongoing campaign represents a fine opportunity for the 28-year-old who surely hopes to join Gareth Southgate's England squad for this summer's Euro 2024.

The Villans remain without injured Lucas Digne and Pau Torres for their Premier League clash at Sheffield United on Saturday evening. The latter returned to light training at Bodymoor Heath earlier this week and Emery is hopeful the Spanish defender can resume full training next week having last started a game seven weeks ago in the victory at Brentford.

Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia are long-term absentees for Aston Villa with Jhon Duran joining them on the sidelines.

Furthermore, Italy international Nicolo Zaniolo, who scored in Aston Villa's home match against Sheffield United in December, has also been ruled out after picking up an injury during training on Friday morning.

Possible Starting Lineups of Sheffield United and Aston Villa

Sheffield United: Wes Foderingham - Jayden Bogle, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Jack Robinson, Auston Trusty - Vinicius Souza - James McAtee, Gustavo Hamer, Anis Ben Slimane, Ben Brereton Diaz - Oli McBurnie. (4-1-4-1)

Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez - Àlex Moreno, Clément Lenglet, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa - Leon Bailey, Boubacar Kamara, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn - Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby. (4-4-2)

Spooky Express Betting Prediction

Given Sheffield United's recent attacking improvement, we believe that the Blades can definitely exploit Aston Villa's vulnerability at the back, but Unai Emery's side have the quality and should be able to outscore their struggling opponents at Bramall Lane.

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome And Both To Score - Aston Villa and Yes +200 at Everygame for 3/10 Units

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Anytime Goalscorer - Ollie Watkins +130 at Everygame for 4/10 Units

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