EPL: Sheffield United vs. Manchester City Odds
City Favored to Make it Three Wins from Three
Sheffield United Without a Point Through Two Games
Sheffield United are back in the Premier League, but their return hasn’t exactly gone smoothly thus far. The Blades have lost their opening two matches to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. They’ve got a much tougher match this Sunday when Manchester City come to town. Despite being without Kevin de Bruyne for a few months, City have started their EPL title defense off excellently. We’ll preview the Sheffield United vs. Manchester City odds as City try to make it three wins from three matches.
⚽ Sheffield United vs Manchester City ⚽
Day/Time:
Location: Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
Head-to-Head
Last season, Sheffield United were in the EFL Championship, but these teams met in the FA Cup semifinals. There, Riyad Mahrez, who now plays in Saudi Arabia, scored a hat trick for Manchester City in a 3-0 win. These teams have played 10 previous times on their Premier League schedules. Manchester City hold a 7-3-0 record in those fixtures, and Sheffield United last defeated Man City in February 1992, when the EPL was still the English First Division.
Sheffield United Manager Wants New Signings
Sheffield United returned to the Premier League for the 2023-24 season by finishing second in the EFL Championship standings. They haven’t made any blockbuster signings thus far, settling for squad players. Although, new midfielder Gustavo Hamer has the Blades’ only goal of the season so far. SUFC also added defenders Auston Trusty and Yasser Larouci, midfielders Tom Davies, Anis Slimane and Vini Souza and forward Benie Traore.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom has already stated that Sheffield United’s season will be decided by the players they bring in before the transfer window closes on September 1st. So, this Sheffield United side is most likely not the finished product. Still, they’ve lost their first two matches and could be embroiled in a relegation fight this season either way. In their last Premier League season, in 2020-21, they finished in last place in the EPL standings.
The Sheffield United vs. Manchester City odds price the Blades as big underdogs despite the fact that they’re playing at home on Sunday. Looking at Sheffield United’s roster, it’s unclear how they’ll produce enough goals to stay in the Premier League.
They’ve sold two of their best players this Summer, Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge. Ndiaye was SUFC’s player of the year last season as he scored 14 goals in the Championship but he’s off to Marseille. Oli McBurnie was Sheffield United’s other 10-goal scorer last season but he has just seven EPL goals in 75 career appearances and is questionable for this match.
Man City Get Big Win Over Newcastle
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had two massive games last week. They took on Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup and ended up coming away with a victory in penalties, following a 1-1 draw. City also hosted a tricky Newcastle side in the Premier League on Saturday. Julian Alvarez’s right-footed strike was the only goal of the match as the Cityzens improved to 2-0.
Ruben Dias returned from a concussion in the match but John Stones remained out with a thigh injury. Apparently, Stones will be out until the international break is over but Bernardo Silva could return from an illness in time for Sunday. Of course, captain Kevin de Bruyne is out until the new year. That makes Phil Foden ever more important for Pep Guardiola as the England international will be tasked with creating chances.
The main goal scoring outlet for City is Erling Haaland. He led the Premier League stats last season with 36 goals and has two in two games so far. However, he missed a bunch of chances vs. Newcastle on Saturday. Expect the Norwegian to be motivated vs. an opponent City are expected to beat handily.
Match Analysis & Odds
Incredibly, Manchester City have kept nine straight shutouts vs. Sheffield United. Here, Sheffield United under 0.5 goals comes in at -165 odds and it’s not at all a bad bet. The Blades are dealing with a number of injuries and William Osula could lead the line again in the absences of Oli McBurnie and Rhian Brewster.
Manchester City are expected to do the bulk of the scoring in this match, as they come in as two-goal favorites. The Sheffield United vs. Manchester City odds price City -2 at -108 odds and the visitors as -575 moneyline favorites.
Manchester City have won 1-0 on each of their last four trips to Sheffield United as SUFC +2 displays -115 odds. As Erling Haaland has now gone two games without scoring a goal in all competitions, a bet on him as an anytime goalscorer up to -150 odds would present good value. He should be incredibly motivated ahead of Sunday’s match and Sheffield United are yet to keep an EPL clean sheet. A Sheffield United win appears quite unlikely, at +1400 odds, while a draw is priced at +625 for Sunday’s match.
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