Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United – EPL, January 2, 2020

The 2020/21 season might not be going quite as planned for Roy Hodgson and his Crystal Palace team. But things could be worse – it could be Sheffield United.

The Blades haven’t won a single game yet and are already 11 points from safety as they get ready for their first fixture of 2021.

It shows how little confidence there is in this Palace side that BetOnline has the pricing for this game so tight. The home team is the favorite to win, but there is not that much difference between the Eagles and a team that has only picked up two points from a possible 48. The draw might be worth investigating here.

Crystal Palace drew 1-1 at home against Leicester on Monday in a performance that was much better than the previous two against Liverpool and Villa. In truth, Roy Hodgson’s side could not have been any worse – but it still conceded a late goal to extend its winless run to five games.

Wilfried Zaha scored the Palace goal – and he looked like the only real star in the team as it toiled to keep away from the group of clubs massing at the foot of the table. Palace looks to be really struggling this season and will lose a few more before the end of the year – but a home game against Sheffield United cannot be one of them.

How dearly would Chris Wilder want that to be the case, though? Sheffield United lost to Burnley on Tuesday after enjoying most of the game at Turf Moor, but without having any real clear-cut chances to show for it. It is hardly surprising that the Blades have also scored the fewest goals this season, as well as already being cut adrift at the bottom of the league.

There were some positives to take from the Burnley game, however. Sheffield United enjoyed more of the ball and remained determined and enthusiastic until the end. But there just doesn’t seem to be any luck at all at the club at the moment. A long-awaited victory might change the mood of the place –and Chris Wilder will see this fixture as a good opportunity for that.

Although the point would help a little, Sheffield United desperately needs to win a few games immediately. There already seems little chance of the club staying up this season, but it needs to pick up some points to at least give itself a fighting chance. Palace can be very poor at times, so this could be the day the Blades win. But I’m going to avert that risk and go for the draw.