Sheffield United vs. Everton – EPL, December 26, 2020

Can Sheffield United somehow turn things around in 2021 to keep its top-flight status? It seems unlikely, but there are a couple more tough fixtures left this year to get out of the way first anyway.

Everton is first up on Boxing Day, and Chris Wilder will need to work out a way to stop Carlo Ancelotti’s thrillingly attacking team.

Sheffield United’s draw with Brighton last weekend has not tempted BetOnline to offer any shorter odds for a home win on Saturday, making Everton the odds on favorite to win at Brammall Lane. That seems about right as well, considering how much the Toffees have improved again in the last few games.

With just three minutes to go on Sunday, it looked as though Sheffield United was finally going to win its first game of the season – at the 14th attempt. Even a red card for John Lundstram hadn’t given Brighton much more real advantage, and a three-point haul looked like it might be on the cards.

But Danny Welbeck stepped up to score a late equalizer and leave Sheffield United still winless at Christmas. Things can surely only get better for the Blades, but there is that Lundstram suspension to deal with now for Wilder, as well as the slew of injuries in his squad.

Everton, on the other hand, will be fairly content with how the season has gone so far. The Toffees raced to the top of the league at the beginning of the campaign – and almost became favorites to win the Merseyside derby – but have now steadied the ship again after a blip in form during November.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team looked far more determined in the win over Arsenal at the weekend and came into this fixture on the back of three consecutive victories. There are some injury worries in the Everton squad as well – with James Rodriguez and Allan both likely to miss this one. But the rest of the players are really stepping up at the moment, giving Everton a big advantage here.

Sheffield United getting so close to finally winning a game last weekend may well have a negative effect on the team for this fixture. Being able to almost see the three points before having them snatched away is a huge blow for the Blades. Everton is not really the team that Sheffield United wants to be playing at the moment.