It’s been an altogether different story for Sheffield United, who remain without a win in the top-flight this season and languish 19th with just one point from their opening seven matches in 2020/21.
Chelsea probably couldn’t have asked for a better game to continue their impressive run.
The Blades look to be suffering from the cliched ‘second-season syndrome’ after such an impressive first campaign back at the top level, with their only point so far this season coming at home.
Sheffield are tied with Burnley for the least amount of goals scored in the Premier League so far this term (three), so a sixth straight clean sheet is well within Chelsea’s grasp.
Comfortable home win.
TEAM NEWS
Christian Pulisic will be absent for Chelsea with a hamstring injury sustained in the warm-up against Burnley last weekend.
Midfielder Kai Havertz is self-isolating after a positive test for COVID-19.
Injured Sheffield United pair John Fleck and Lys Mousset have stepped up their rehabilitation but won’t feature.
The Blades will also be without loanee Ethan Ampadu, who is ineligible to face his parent club.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Sheffield United could keep consecutive league clean sheets against Chelsea for the first time.
- With four wins from eight meetings, the Blades are one of four clubs to have won more Premier League matches against Chelsea than they have lost (D1, L3).
Chelsea
- Chelsea are on a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions, winning five and drawing five.
- They have kept five consecutive clean sheets for the first time since September-October 2010. It is 12 years since they went six competitive games without conceding.
- Edouard Mendy is only the third goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in each of his first three Chelsea Premier League appearances.
- Timo Werner has been involved in four goals in his last three Premier League games, scoring three and setting up one.
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Sheffield United
- Sheffield United are on an 11-match winless run in all competitions since a 3-0 home win over Chelsea on 11 July.
- The Blades could remain winless in their first eight league games for the first time since 1990-91.
- Only four clubs have had two points or fewer after eight matches of a Premier League season and gone on to avoid relegation.
- Billy Sharp is one shy of 100 league goals for Sheffield United.
- Manager Chris Wilder is one win away from his 100th in all competitions for the Blades.
PREDICTION: 2-0
