Chelsea and Sheffield United meet on Saturday, as the Blues aim to push themselves back into the top four reckoning in the English Premier League.
Frank Lampard’s youthful side have shown encouraging signs in recent weeks, battening down the hatches to draw with Manchester United before breezing past Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend.
Also read: English Premier League predictions, fixtures and results ? Round 8
They will have to do without big signing Kai Havertz this weekend, though, with the German wunderkind having tested positive for Covid-19 in the week.
Christian Pulisic is nursing a hamstring injury and will likely not be risked on Saturday.
Sheffield United are suffering from a severe bout of second season syndrome, having gone winless in their opening seven EPL fixtures.
The Blades have, in fact, only picked up one point so far in a home draw with fellow strugglers Fulham three weeks ago.
Understandable defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City have followed, which nevertheless has seen the pressure rise in South Yorkshire.
On-loan Ethan Ampadu is ineligible to face his parent club this weekend, with major signing Rhian Brewster also a doubt at the other end of the pitch.
John Fleck and Lys Mousset are only expected to return to the fold after the international break.
?Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Prediction
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
Chelsea vs Sheffield United: EPL Line-up predictions
Probable Chelsea Starting XI: Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma, Ben Chilwell, Jorginho, N?Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham.
Probable Sheffield United Starting XI: Aaron Ramsdale, Chris Basham, John Egan, Enda Stephens, George Baldock, Sander Berge, Oliver Norwood, Ben Osborn, Max Lowe, Oliver McBurnie, David McGoldrick.