[Football- England 'Premier League'] 26.12/ 21:00 Sheffield United - Everton
Sheffield United might be placed bottom of the top flight but the 1-1 draw away to Brighton in their last game showed how they are not letting themselves become demoralised by their league position. It can be argued that Brighton only snatched a draw because of red card given to John Lundstram. The Blades have now picked up 2 points from their opening 14 league games and they are 10 points adrift of safety. Chris Wilder will be without the talented Sander Berge due to injury Lundstram is suspended and Oli McBurnie is unlikely to be fit to play. United are only the third team in the top division to be without a league win at Christmas with only Burnley in 1889/90 and Bolton in 1902/03 matching the unwanted feat. The good news is that last week's draw ended a run of 8 straight league losses for the club.
Everton might have been eliminated in gut-wrenching fashion from the EFL Cup just before Christmas to Manchester United but there is still plenty for Carlo Ancelotti and his players to be optimistic about. The Toffees are in 4th place and only 5 points off the pace of the league leaders Liverpool. It's the first time in 16 years that Everton have been positioned in the top four on Christmas Day. Boxing Day has also proved a fruitful period for the Merseysiders over recent years with them having gone unbeaten in the last 7 years on this day. It's now 4 league games undefeated including winning their last 3 of those matches.
I've been taking on the role of the eternal optimist for Sheffield United this season but even I'm starting to feel like the candle is burning out. I have no doubt that they'll take points off teams this season and will be a stern fight for anyone but the lack of a potent striker and the now absent Berge could hit them hard. I'm going to back a valiant display again here but I think Everton will just have too much.
2 @2,20 Bet365
FT 0:1
[Football- England 'Premier League'] 26.12/ 21:00 Sheffield United - Everton
2 @2,20
