Two teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table meet at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon as Everton play host to basement club Sheffield United.
Not long ago, this fixture was projected to be a potentially pivotal contest in the battle to avoid relegation, but the fate of both clubs has now been confirmed, with the Blades heading back the Championship and the Toffees safe in the top flight for another season.
Match preview
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Amid off-field uncertainty over the club's ownership status, Everton have had little to be frustrated about on the pitch in recent weeks, as they have collected 14 points across their last seven Premier League matches; only title hopefuls Manchester City and Arsenal (both 15) have accumulated more points in this period.
The Toffees' three-game winning run was brought to an end a week last Friday, though, as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Luton Town, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's opener from the penalty spot cancelled out by Elijah Adebayo.
With 37 points on the board, Everton - coached by April's Premier League Manager of the Month Sean Dyche - have picked up one point more than they managed last season (36) with two games still to play, and they are on course to finish in 15th place as they sit six points adrift of Crystal Palace in 14th spot.
Everton will welcome a return to Goodison Park where they have won each of their last four home matches without reply, including a memorable Merseyside derby triumph over Liverpool, and have lost just twice in 10 games since the turn of the year.
The Toffees have lost their final home league fixture in just one of the last eight campaigns, but their home record against Saturday's opponents Sheffield United leaves little to be desired, as they have lost five of their last seven meetings with the Blades in front of their own fans.
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A week after their relegation was confirmed following a heavy 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United, Sheffield United were beaten 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest in their most recent outing - their 26th Premier League defeat of the season.
The Blades were in front courtesy of an early penalty from Ben Brereton Diaz, but Chris Wilder was once again made to rue a number of missed chances from his team as a clinical Forest outfit fired themselves to victory, with Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring either side of a strike from Ryan Yates.
Sheffield United have now conceded a total of 100 Premier League goals, the joint-most in a single season in the division's history along with Swindon Town, who shipped a century of goals during a 42-game campaign in 1993-94.
Huddersfield Town (16) in 2018-19 were the last team to finish a top-flight season with fewer than 20 points, but Sheffield United will follow suit if they failed to claim at least four points from their remaining two fixtures against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
Sheffield United have lost their final away game in each of their last four Premier League campaigns, but their last success did come away at Everton back in 1992-93 when they claimed a 2-0 win at Goodison Park. They also won their most recent visit to the blue side of Merseyside in May 2021 by a 1-0 scoreline, so there is reason for Wilder and co to be optimistic of success on Saturday.
Team News
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Everton are still having to cope without Vitalii Mykolenko (ankle), Nathan Patterson (hamstring) and Dele Alli (groin) as they all continue to recover from injury.
Ashley Young is expected to continue at left-back in the absence of Mykolenko, while Seamus Coleman will battle with Ben Godfrey for a start at right-back as Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski continue at the heart of the defence.
Amadou Onana will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI having started as a substitute in each of Everton's last four league games, while both Beto and Arnaut Danjuma will be pushing for a start in attack.
As for Sheffield United, they are set to be without as many as 10 players, including Max Lowe, John Egan, Chris Basham (all ankle), George Baldock (calf), Oli McBurnie, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Tom Davies (all thigh) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) who all remain in the treatment room.
Everton loanee Mason Holgate is ineligible to face his parent club, while Anel Ahmedhodzic is suspended after being sent off last weekend, so Wilder could select a back four of Jayden Bogle, Jack Robinson, Auston Trusty and Ben Osborn.
Oliver Arblaster is set to continue in midfield along with Gustavo Hamer and either Vinicius Souza or Andre Brooks, while Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer could be supported in attack by one of James McAtee, William Osula or ex-Liverpool man Rhian Brewster.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Bogle, Robinson, Trusty, Osborn; Arblaster, Souza, Hamer; McAtee, Archer, Brereton Diaz
We say: Everton 2-0 Sheffield United
A 2-2 draw was played out between these two teams in the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane back in September, and although another tight affair could be in store this weekend, Everton will be regarded as favourites to come out on top considering their strong run of form, particularly on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
