Everton vs Sheffield United: Preview and Prediction

Everton and Sheffield United will look to get back to winning ways when they meet at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The 2023/24 Premier League season resumes on Saturday with Gameweek 37 as we go into overdrive until the curtain falls next week. The penultimate round of fixtures will begin with Fulham v Manchester City at Craven Cottage before continuing to Goodison Park where Everton host Sheffield United.

Everton would have hoped for a smoother ride under Sean Dyche this season. While the former Burnley manager was outstanding, two penalties that dropped eight points from their total threatened to send them into the relegation zone. However, a four-match unbeaten run secured the Merseyside club a place in the top flight for another campaign.

As for Sheffield United, they have been awful for most of the 2023/24 season. The Blades have managed just three wins so far this term, while conceding 100 goals and losing 26 times. So it’s no surprise that they were never in contention to avoid relegation, having been in the drop zone for almost the entire campaign.

The reverse fixture saw Everton come from a goal down to hold Sheffield United to a 2-2 draw, with Arnaut Danjuma scoring the equaliser. Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the meeting ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team news and tactics

Everton

Sean Dyche has no fresh injury problems to hamper his preparations ahead of his side’s final game. The Everton manager will be without the services of three first-team players against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Vitaliy Mykolenko is the most notable absentee due to an ankle ligament injury that prematurely ended his campaign. The Ukraine international joins Nathan Patterson (thigh) and Dele Alli (groin) on the sidelines.

Jordan Pickford will take his place between the sticks, with Everton lining up in a 4-4-1-1 formation in front of him against Sheffield United. The back line should feature Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Ashley Young.

As for the middle unit, look no further than James Garner and Idrissa Gueye in the central areas. Abdoulaye Doucoure should resume no. 10, while Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison will be the two wide receivers. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for the home side on Saturday.

Likely formation (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin

Sheffield United

Unlike his counterpart in the Everton dugout, Chris Wilder has fresh roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Goodison Park. The Sheffield United manager will be without ten first-team players on Saturday.

Anel Ahmedhodzic is the latest absentee after seeing red against Nottingham Forest last weekend. Additionally, Mason Holgate is ineligible to face his parent club. The duo joined Max Lowe (ankle), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), John Egan (ankle), George Baldock (calf), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness) and Oliver McBurnie (thigh) on the sidelines.

Ahmedhodzic’s absence means Sheffield United will line up in a 4-3-3 formation instead of the usual 3-5-2 system, with Wes Foderingham taking his place between the sticks. The backline should feature Jayden Bogle, Jack Robinson, Auston Trusty and Ben Osborn.

As for the midfield unit, you can’t look past Vinicius Souza, Gustavo Hamer and Oliver Arblaster, who will wear the captain’s armband. Finally, Cameron Archer will replace McBurnie, with Ben Brereton Diaz and James McAtee completing the numbers in attack.

Likely formation (4-3-3): Foderingham; Bogle, Robinson, Trusty, Osborn; Souza, Arblaster, Hamer; McAtee, Archer, Brereton Diaz

Key statistics

• Everton have lost five of their last seven home games against Sheffield United (including their most recent two). The exceptions are a 4-2 win in August 1993 and a 2-0 win in October 2006.
• Sheffield United have won more Premier League away games against Everton than any other opponent (three). Additionally, their four wins overall against them in the competition are the most against a team (also four against Chelsea).
• Everton have lost their last home game in just one of their last eight campaigns. They have also won their last game of the season at Goodison Park for three consecutive years since losing 3-1 to Bournemouth in 2019/20. On the other hand, Sheffield United have lost the final away from home in their last four Premier League fixtures. The last time they won their last Premier League game on the road was at Everton in 1992/93.
• Jordan Pickford has kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, the second most in a single campaign after 2018/19 (14).
• Despite only joining the club in January, no Sheffield United player has scored more Premier League goals this season than Ben Brereton-Diaz (six). His strike rate every 158 minutes is the second-best of any Blades player to manage at least 500 minutes in a campaign after Nathan Blake in 1993/94 (a goal every 145 minutes).

Player to watch

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

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The last few years have been a trial by fire for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with injury woes curtailing his time on the pitch. However, the Englishman has bounced back in recent weeks after struggling for most of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 27-year-old has found the back of the net four times in his last five Premier League games, with that run of goals helping Everton avoid relegation. So, amid uncertainty over his Everton future, Calvert-Lewin will be eager to continue the momentum and stamp his authority against Sheffield United.

foresight

Everton 3-0 Sheffield United

The reverse game ended in a stalemate. But while Sheffield United have remained stagnant since then, Everton’s progress under Sean Dyche has been rapid. If it weren’t for two penalties and a minor reprieve, the Merseyside club would have 45 points and be in contention for a top flight.

However, the Toffees showed their class and will continue to impress the crowd with another top performance. Meanwhile, Sheffield United will go one goal behind after another dreadful display, with Hard Tackle predicting Everton to beat the away side 3-0 on Saturday.