The final Premier League weekend before the first international break features a big six vs newly promoted matchup, one where the series history is rather evenly matched.
Chelsea FC have emerged victorious 38 times, while Sheffield United were winners on 27 previous occasions. The two sides, who will meet for the 81st time on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, have played to a draw 15 times. Let’s run through the team news for both sides, starting with the heavily favored Blues.
Both winger Pedro (hamstring) and midfielder N’Golo Kante (ankle) face a fitness test in the next couple of days, and the duo’s status is on the bubble for this one.
The young and promising Mason Mount (calf), has earned an England call-up for the upcoming internationals, so he should be good to go, despite some designating him a slight doubt for this match.
Central defender Antonio Rudiger and forward Callum Hudson-Odoi are moving closer to match fitness, but this clash will come too soon for them to feature.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles) remains a long term injury absentee. Switching over to Sheffield, Blades defender Kean Bryan is out and midfielder John Fleck is working his way back into the mix.
Sheffield United at Chelsea FC FYIs
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Saturday, Aug 31, Stamford Bridge, 3pm
Google Result Probability: Chelsea win 69%, Draw 20%, Sheffield United win 11%
Odds via Betway: Chelsea win 4/11, Draw 15/4, Sheffield United win 8/1
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Sheffield United 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.