Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English Premier League
Fancy joining our official FPL mini-league for the season ahead? Click here to join!
THE FACTS
When is Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace on and what time does it start? Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace will take place on Saturday 12th August, 2023 – 15:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace on in the UK? Television rights for the Premier League in the UK are shared between Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime so it is worth checking their schedules for Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace
Where can I stream Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace in the UK? If Sheffield Utd vs Crystal Palace is televised, then it can be streamed on either Sky Go, discovery+ or Amazon Prime Video depending on who is broadcasting the match
THE LOWDOWN
SHEFFIELD UTD
Sheffield Utd return to the Premier League after a brief absence but they have an incredibly difficult task ahead of them to stay in the division, as their squad looks decidedly weak compared to their rivals. Be that as it may, they outperformed expectations to earn automatic promotion last season, and manager Paul Heckingbottom will be determined to prove the doubters wrong once again.
CRYSTAL PALACE
The evergreen Roy Hodgson - who expertly guided Crystal Palace to safety last season - is at the helm once again and the veteran manager has challenged his men to finish in the top half of the table this time around.
They will have to do so without the services of the long-serving Wilfried Zaha though, who has departed for new shores. How they manage to fill the void left by the Ivorian will be key to their success this season.
THE TEAM NEWS
SHEFFIELD UTD
Sheffield Utd are beset with injury problems heading into the new campaign, with several players out of action and a handful more doubtful with various issues. Heckingbottom will be hoping that John Fleck, Oliver Norwood and Oliver McBurnie will recover in time, although Fleck in particular looks like he could miss a couple of weeks of action.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Slimane, Osborn, Norwood, Larouci; Osula, Traore
UNAVAILABLE: Coulibaly (Injured), Norrington-Davies (Injured), Fleck (Injured), Bogle (Injured), Brewster (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Souza (Ineligible), Norwood (Injured), Jebbison (Injured), McBurnie (Injured)
CRYSTAL PALACE
Roy Hodgson has kept a fairly settled XI in recent pre-season friendlies, so assuming Cheick Doucoure recovers from a knock sustained against Lyon last weekend, this could very well be the line-up he goes for.
Michael Olise is the most significant absentee in the camp, and with Wilfried Zaha having departed the club, much of the creative responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Eberechi Eze.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Clyne; Doucoure, Lerma; Ayew, Eze, Schlupp; Edouard
UNAVAILABLE: Franca (Injured), Hughes (Injured), Olise (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Mitchell (Injured), Doucoure (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Crystal Palace begin life without Wilfried Zaha but they have been handed a somewhat kind opening fixture against an injury-hit promoted side. Bramall Lane is a notoriously difficult place to go though, and the visitors certainly won't have it all their own way. The Blades faithful will be in fine voice in this opener and can certainly boost their team, but expect Palace to have a little too much quality in the end. Draw not bet is the safe approach.
TIP: CRYSTAL PALACE DRAW NO BET
