Sheffield United v Tottenham betting preview: Free Premier League tips, analysis and predictions for Thursday's Bramall Lane clash

Recommended bets

1pt Serge Aurier 1+ Total Shots at 11/8

0.5pt Giovani Lo Celso to score anytime at 13/2

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Sheffield United v Tottenham

• 1800 BST kick-off on Sky Sports Premier League
• Match Odds: Home - 29/10 | Draw - 23/10 | Away - 1/1

An awful lot has happened since these two met in November 2019, a 1-1 draw in north London.

Sheffield United were unfortunate not to win on the day after seeing a goal chalked off by VAR before George Baldock's equaliser, but it saw them extend their unbeaten run on the road to six matches and another organised display showed us that Chris Wilder's side were no flukes and meant business this term.

The months that followed saw the Blades continue to impress and in the picture for a Europa League spot, and even whispers about sneaking into the Champions League, with Wilder a top contender, if not a shoo-in, for Manager of The Year. But the coronavirus crisis dragged the rug from under their feet.

With the way Wilder has had them drilled in the last couple of years, it was expected they would return raring to go but it has been quite the opposite, if anything. They look flat and, frankly, like a 'second season syndrome' team.

A home match against Spurs at Bramall Lane, where they beat Arsenal and held Man United, could have seen them as a worthy shout a couple of months back. But, with no fans and a season that looks to be petering out towards a mid-table finish - which is still an excellent first campaign, let's be clear - then the near 3/1 price is less appealing. They did, at least, show some fight in the FA Cup against Arsenal but silverware was at stake and it was still not quite the Blades we have come to know.

For Spurs, meanwhile, that reverse meeting was Mauricio Pochettino's last game in charge as the club opted to bring in Jose Mourinho in the international break that followed. It has been an up and down spell for the Portuguese, but coming in mid-season was never going to be ideal.

The break has allowed him to get some ideas across and there have been glimpses of potential with four points from six, although it may be too little, too late for their top-four assault.

They are, too, still finding their match sharpness again but there is much to be optimistic about, in particular an array of attacking options with Steven Bergwijn, Heung-min Son, Lucas Moura, Dele Alli, Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela all among those vying for places in supporting roles to Harry Kane.

The visitors are favoured here and there are some prices worth considering - that could even come off if they fail to win.

The first, on a midfielder who Mourinho is an admirer of, who is starting to show his true potential since arriving last summer. That man is Lo Celso. Available at a shade over 6/1 to get on the score sheet anytime.

So far, 13 of his 21 appearances in the Premier League have come from the bench but seven of those eight starts have come under Mourinho and he could keep his place after returning to the XI against West Ham.

The Argentinian is a real live wire and has looked capable of providing that moment of class when Spurs need it. An element of caution would be the fact he has scored just twice in all competitions this term, but it is only a matter of time until he starts adding goals more regularly. So just small stakes here.

In the Champions League, where he started four of five games, he averaged 1.6 shots per game this season while in the league he has had 12 attempts in total (interestingly, eight of them outside the box).

He looks much better in a more attacking role and if he is given the nod to support Kane then this 13/2 price should plummet and rightly so.

He is capable of easing the loss of Christian Eriksen in that position and a goal could be on the cards against a Blades side that has conceded six goals in their last two Premier League games.

Another player showing his attacking capabilities under Mourinho is Serge Aurier, who divides opinion amongst Spurs fans.

The Ivorian right-back has virtually been playing as a right winger since their return - he was even caught offside against West Ham! He got an assist against Man United too.

He provides much-needed width to that right-hand side and you often see them switching play to him in acres of space. He also makes late runs at the far post and he is a player who is not afraid of trying his luck.

With that in mind, it is surprising that he has only had one attempt in his last two appearances. Sheff United's defending has not been great recently and Aurier can look to expose that and he could well have at least an attempt. At odds-against, that is well worth backing.

The 13/2 on offer for him to have 2+ shots was incredibly appealing - he has had two or more in a game on two occasions this season, one of which was against the Blades - but we will play it safe with just the one.

Prediction: Sheff United 0-2 Spurs (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)

Best bets

Giovani Lo Celso to score anytime at 13/2

Serge Aurier 1+ Total Shots at 11/8

Opta stats

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last five top-flight home games against Spurs (W3 D2) since a 1-2 loss in December 1975.
• Tottenham have won their last four Premier League games in Yorkshire, and are unbeaten in their last seven in the county (W6 D1) since a 1-2 loss to Sheffield United in February 2007.
• Tottenham’s last competitive match in July was in the 1995 Intertoto Cup, with the London side losing 0-8 to FC Köln in Germany.
• Tottenham have never lost in 12 previous Premier League games played on Thursdays (W7 D5), the best unbeaten record on a single day of the week for a club in the competition.
• Sheffield United have failed to score in their last three Premier League games (D1 L2). They haven’t failed to score in four consecutive league games since April 2000 under Neil Warnock.
• Having conceded 3+ goals in just one of their first 29 Premier League games this season, Sheffield United have lost both of their last two by a 0-3 scoreline. The Blades have only lost three consecutive league matches under Chris Wilder once previously, losing three in a row in December 2017 in the Championship.
• Sheffield United have failed to have more than one shot on target in any of their three Premier League matches since the season resumed.
• Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in their last 23 Premier League away games against newly promoted teams (W19 D4), since a 0-1 defeat to QPR in April 2012.
• Tottenham manager José Mourinho has won 199 of his 324 Premier League games in charge. Victory here will see him become the fifth manager to register 200 wins in the competition, with only Alex Ferguson reaching the milestone in fewer games (322).
• Tottenham striker Harry Kane has scored 198 goals in 345 games in all competitions at club level in his career (five for Leyton Orient, nine for Millwall, two for Leicester and 182 for Tottenham). Kane has also scored 10 goals in just nine appearances in Yorkshire – however, Sheffield United are the only side Kane has faced in the Premier League without scoring against.

Odds correct as of 1145 BST on 01/07/20

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