Manchester United will be looking to extend their unbeaten Premier League record to fourteen games when they host Sheffield United tonight. The Red Devils have quietly become dark horses for the league title has created a run of 13 league games unbeaten.
You have to go back to 1st November since Ole Gunnar Solejaer’s side last lost a Premier League match. It was a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal and since then have drawn three matches, and accumulating 33 points from a possible 39 points, which has seen them take the top spot at the time of writing, two points ahead of Manchester City.
Manchester United have experienced the unwelcome task of facing Liverpool in the North West Derby twice in the last three matches. They drew 0-0 in the Premier League encounter at Anfield, but their FA Cup tie at Old Trafford was a more exciting match. The Red Devils recorded a 2-1 win at Fulham in midweek before hosting the Merseyside club.
They fell behind to their bitter rivals on 18 minutes as Mo Salah picked up a ball through to clip the ball over Dean Henderson. The lead lasted eight minutes as the hosts cut out a Liverpool attack, brought the ball out to Marcus Rashford on the left and his deep cross from the half-way line found Mason Greenwood in space to fire home.
Rashford put the home side ahead three minutes into the second when the Reds failed to stop Greenwood’s ball-through, allowing the striker to race clear to score. On 58 minutes Salah again was on the score-sheet after a neat move saw James Milner dummy in the box, allowing the ball to fall free to the Egyptian who fired home first time. The decisive goal in the game from Bruno Fernandes beautifully struck free-kick on 78 minutes, winning the game for Manchester United and booking them a place in round five at home to West Ham.
Sheffield United came close to victory when they met Manchester United shortly over a month ago on 17th December. A struggling United side took a surprise lead against the Red Devils at Bramall Lane after five minutes when Oliver Burke closed down Dean Henderson, winning the ball before knocking into the path of David McGoldrick to finish from close range.
Manchester United rallied up and before half-time loomed had moved into a 2-1 lead through Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial goals
. On 51 minutes Rashford netted his second of the night and, on 87 minutes, the Blades gave themselves a glimmer of hope of repeating the 3-3 draw which they recorded at Bramall Lane last season when McGoldrick struck again for the hosts but couldn’t squeeze home another late goal.
The Blades have won only once in the Premier League against the Red Devils. This was on 15th August 1992, the first-ever Premier League match. Famously, the Blades won 2-1 and Brian Deane’s goal after five minutes is recorded as the league’s first-ever goal. However, you have to go back to Boxing Day 1973 when the last time the Blades recorded a victory on Old Trafford soil, winning 2-1.
United are expected to be without England international striker Marcus Rashford, defenders Phil Jones (both knee), and Marcos Rojo (calf), who was linked with a loan move to Sheffield United this transfer window, have all been ruled out through injury. Brandon Williams and Facundo Pellistri Rebollo are also sidelined through injury.
Match Officials
Referee: Peter Bankes.
Assistants: Neil Davies, Nick Hopton.
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson.
VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.
Past Premier League Results… vs. Manchester United
1992/93 – Bramall Lane (W 2-1), Old Trafford (L 1-2)
1993/94 – Bramall Lane (L 0-3), Old Trafford (L 0-3)
2006/07 – Bramall Lane (L 1-2), Old Trafford (L 0-2)
2019/20 – Bramall Lane (D 3-3), Old Trafford (L 0-3)
2020/21 – Bramall Lane (L 2-3)
Last Time
Sheffield United 2-3 Manchester United – 17.12.2020 – Premier League
Forthcoming Blades Fixtures;
*All fixtures are subject to change
30 Jan – Manchester City (a) – 15:00
02 Feb – West Bromwich Albion (h) – 19:45
06 Feb – Chelsea (h) – 15:00
13 Feb – West Ham United (a) – 15:00
20 Feb – Fulham (a) – 15:00
27 Feb – Liverpool (h) – 15:00
06 Mar – Southampton (h) – 15:00
13 Mar – Leicester City (a) – 15:00
20 Mar– Aston Villa (h) – 15:00
03 Apr – Leeds United (a) – 15:00
10 Apr – Arsenal (h) – 15:00
17 Apr – Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) – 15:00
24 Apr – Brighton & Hove Albion (h) – 15:00
01 May – Tottenham Hotspur (a) – 15:00
08 May – Crystal Palace (h) – 15:00
11 May – Everton (a) – 19:45
15 May – Newcastle United (a) – 15:00
23 May – Burnley (h) – 16:00