Chris Wilder and his Sheffield United side have started their return to the Premier League strongly. They currently sit three points above Tottenham Hotspur, whom they play tomorrow. The Blades were unlucky to lose 1-0 at home to Liverpool but have since beaten Arsenal and brushed Burnley aside with ease in their last game at Bramall Lane. Tottenham, meanwhile, look short on confidence, leaving this as a game that will be an intriguing watch.
Chris Wilder Looking to Continue Sheffield United’s Fine Form
Chris Wilder Knows Blades Cannot Stand Still
Chris Wilder knows that his Sheffield United side cannot afford to stand still, though. After securing promotion back to the Premier League last season and a fine start to this season, Wilder cited Tottenham as an example of why teams cannot stand still in an interview with the Yorkshire Post’s Stuart Rayner:
“White Hart Lane was a fabulous ground but it just shows what teams need to do to progress, whether it’s stadia or the quality of players. It shows you what a progressive league it is. Clubs can’t stand still and we aren’t in that bracket.”
Wilder wants to look to extend contracts of players such as John Fleck and John Egan and feels his squad has enough to remain in the Premier League this season. Their start certainly suggest he is right to hold that belief.
Which Tottenham Will Show Up?
Will we see the Tottenham that beat Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League in midweek, that played fluent football and grabbed a 4-0 victory in front of a partisan crowd? Or the Tottenham that have shown up for most of the season; tepid and turgid?
The midweek game saw Giovani Lo Celso start and play with style. He grabbed a goal, but it was his attacking style and passing that really caught the eye. Sog Heung-min showed great character to score two goals after being devastated with the injury to Andre Gomes at Goodison Park last week. Tanguy Ndombele was powerful and also looked to drive forward as opposed to the slow, sideways and backward passing Spurs that has been way off form so far.
Will Winning Team be Changed?
Keeping a winning team would serve Tottenham well right now. That is unlikely though as Pochettino has not kept the same starting 11 for 93 games in a row now. If he brings Christian Eriksen back into start, there may be rumbles of discontent from the fans. Lo Celso played well enough to earn his start, and Ndombele should start alongside Moussa Sissoko.
Erik Lamela, Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen remain unavailable due to injury.
Prediction
In any other season, this match would be a confident home win. With Wilder’s United a confident side this season, there may be a shock in store. A win for Chris Wilder and Sheffield United would keep them in the top six. For Tottenham, a defeat would push them closer to the drop zone and surely end their top-four hopes before Christmas.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Sheffield United
Main Photo
