Chelsea vs Sheffield United betting preview: predictions and odds
CHELSEA will look to avoid another banana skin in the shape of Sheffield United later today in the Premier League.
Featured bonus for Chelsea vs Sheffield United
Quick betting tips for Chelsea vs Sheffield United
- Draw/Sheff Utd in the double-chance market – 3/1 with Spreadex
- Ahmedhodzic 1+ shot at 11/10 – 11/10 with bet365
- Jackson to be shown a card – 3/1 with Sky Bet
Chelsea vs Sheffield United odds
Here are the latest match odds for Chelsea vs Sheffield United from our top-rated football bookies. Odds are subject to change.
Chelsea vs Sheffield United betting preview
It’s not going well at Chelsea.
Just when you thought Everton’s spending splurge under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership had to go down as the worst football business of all time, along came Todd Boehly.
£1billion later and Chelsea sit, embarrassingly, in the bottom half of the Premier League. It’s a position the former champions are becoming accustomed to.
Last weekend brought a third defeat In four games, 2-0 at Everton, and was followed by manager Mauricio Pochettino talking about the need for more signings in the forthcoming transfer window.
This coming from the superstar boss who was supposed to be the man to mould the big-money squad into a team capable of challenging for the title.
The pressure is well and truly on and when that’s the case even what appears to be a simple task becomes a tough one.
Sheffield United sit bottom of the pile and have collected just one point from a possible 21 away from Bramall Lane.
They have taken some batterings and that could happen again here.
But they’ve also been very competitive in a lot of matches – they drew at Brighton and how they didn’t get anything out of their trip to Spurs earlier in the season remains a mystery.
Last week they earned their first win under new boss Chris Wilder so spirit in the Blades’ camp may well be higher right now than it is in the home one.
Betting is all about price and there’s little doubt Chelsea offer poor value.
They’ve already lost at home to Nottingham Forest and overall have won just two of eight at the Bridge.
It looks worth taking a chance on the visitors – read on for the best way to get with the Blades!
Chelsea vs Sheffield United key stats
- Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has already scored against Burnley and Luton this season and now has 15 goals in his last 18 games against newly-promoted sides.
- Sheffield United have the worst away record in the Premier League, picking up a solitary point (at Brighton) from their seven road trips.
- Chelsea have won only two of eight at Stamford Bridge but their underlying data is decent – they have the fourth-best expected goals (xG) tally in the top flight.
- Sheffield United will be without centre-back Jack Robinson for this clash due to suspension. However, Oli McBurnie and Oli Norwood are both available after serving bans, while George Baldock returns to the squad after injury.
- Chelsea’s lengthy injury list now includes keeper Robert Sanchez, while Reece James was back in the treatment room this week after tweaking a hamstring and Marc Cucurella has a twisted ankle.
Chelsea vs Sheffield United best bets
Find our best bets for the Chelsea vs Sheffield United game below. Odds for the bets are provided by the best sportsbooks per our expert reviews. Odds in the bettings tips are subject to change.
Draw/Sheffield United double chance (Spreadex)
Chelsea have been a mid-table side, at best, for a season and a half now and quite why anyone would back them at 2/9 is a mystery.
OK, you could argue Sheffield United are the worst team in the league but they’ve drawn at Brighton and were 1-0 up at Spurs after 97 minutes.
They’ve shown they can compete and there have been signs of improvement since Chris Wilder replaced Paul Heckingbottom – victory over Brentford last weekend will undoubtedly have boosted confidence.
In short, the Blades look a big price to avoid defeat for the fourth time in seven matches.
Back Draw/Sheffield United in the double-chance market at 3/1 at Spreadex
Anel Ahmedhodzic 1+ shot (bet365)
Admittedly, Ahmedhodzic’s shot output has dropped since he returned from injury a few weeks ago but prior to that he had landed this bet in 20 of 24 games.
New boss Wilder is famous for his ‘overlapping centre-backs’ so Ahmedhodzic will get licence to stride forward and he likes a shot from distance.
He’s also a set-piece threat and Chelsea have had problems defending those – only six teams have conceded more shots than them in such situations.
Quotes of odds-against therefore look worth taking.
Back Ahmedhodzic 1+ shot at 11/10 at bet365
Nicolas Jackson to be carded (Sky Bet)
This game features the two most-carded teams in the Premier League, plus the referee with the second-highest card count, Andy Madley.
Essentially, there should be a few bookings in this one and while you’ll only get even money about there being 6+ cards, there might be a bit of value in the player-card market.
Jackson has a league-high seven cards in his 15 games since arriving from Spain, yet he can be backed at 3/1 for another here.
Back Jackson to be shown a card at 3/1 at Sky Bet
How to watch Chelsea vs Sheffield United
- Location: Stamford Bridge, Fulham, England
- Time: 15:00 GMT on Saturday (December 16)
- Where to watch: Not being shown live on TV in the UK
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