Still unbeaten since the turn of the year, a resurrected Luton Town outfit welcome fellow Premier League new boys Sheffield United to Kenilworth Road for a crucial battle at the bottom of the table on Saturday afternoon.
The Hatters and Newcastle United shared the spoils in an eight-goal extravaganza last weekend, while Chris Wilder's men suffered an embarrassing 5-0 home loss to Sheffield United.
Match preview
© Reuters
In spite of their astonishing 4-0 crushing of Brighton & Hove Albion in their final fixture of January, Luton's unblemished sequence in 2024 was ostensibly destined to come to an end at Newcastle United's St James' Park headquarters, where Sean Longstaff put the Magpies ahead with just seven minutes on the clock.
However, the midfielder's effort would be the first of eight goals to fly into the back of the North East nets during an absorbing battle, in which Elijah Adebayo, Ross Barkley, Carlton Morris and Gabriel Osho all sparked bedlam in the away end, although disappointment was still tangible come the final whistle.
Adebayo's finish on the 62nd-minute mark gave Luton a healthy two-goal cushion, but Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes quickly responded to salvage a point for the hosts and leave Rob Edwards's men just one point above Everton in 17th place, albeit with a match in hand.
Not since being bested 3-2 at home to Chelsea on December 30 have the inspired Hatters fallen to defeat in any competition, and with at least one goal to show from their last 10 Premier League fixtures, only Tottenham Hotspur (35) are on a longer scoring sequence in the top flight.
A record that has stood for almost 47 years could also be broken by Edwards's men this week, as should Luton put a quartet of goals or more past their out-of-sorts visitors, they will become the first promoted side since Sunderland in March 1977 to score at least four goals in three successive top-flight games.
© Reuters
If Sheffield United's most recent performance is anything to go by, Premier League history being written at Kenilworth Road is not beyond the realm of possibility, as Chris Wilder's Blades were scythed down by a merciless Aston Villa crop during last weekend's complete mismatch.
Four of the Lions' goals arrived by the half-hour mark, as John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans caused a mass exodus of home supporters, and those that stayed were not rewarded for their loyalty, only witnessing Alex Moreno cap off a five-star Villa performance.
A gloomy Wilder issued the obligatory apology to supporters after Sheffield United's latest home horror show, one which leaves them rooted to 20th place in the Premier League table, and defeat at Kenilworth Road this weekend would leave them 13 points behind Luton having played a game more.
The miracle of all miracles will need to be performed by Wilder if the Blades are to retain their Premier League status - a fanciful scenario given that the visitors arrive at Luton's headquarters having conceded 15 goals in their last five Premier League matches, and they are the only team in the 2023-24 top flight without a single away win so far.
An own-goal implosion - where Jack Robinson and Anis Ben Slimane both turned the ball past their goalkeeper - saw Sheffield United succumb to a 3-2 loss to Luton on Boxing Day, but the last three meetings on the Hatters' territory have ended level, including a 1-1 Championship draw last term.
Team News
© Reuters
Luton's treatment room has quite an empty feel to it at this juncture, as only Mads Andersen (calf), long-term knee victim Marvelous Nakamba and Tom Lockyer - who has recently been visiting the Hatters' training ground - are definitely out of Saturday's game through fitness concerns.
Edwards has revealed that Teden Mengi took a knock to the ankle in Thursday's training session and is uncertain, though, while new signing Daiki Hashioka is not quite ready for his debut.
After failing to start a single Premier League game in 2023, Jordan Clark has been named in the first XI in each of the Hatters' last three top-flight fixtures, but he remains without a goal or assist and must fend off strong competition Andros Townsend and Jacob Brown to hold his place here.
With regards to Sheffield United, Wilder's offensive ranks will be strengthened by the return of Rhian Brewster from suspension, and Oli McBurnie could also be back from the calf niggle which kept him out of the Aston Villa mauling.
It is still unclear whether Max Lowe (unspecified) will be given the green light to travel to Kenilworth Road, but Ivo Grbic is still in concussion protocol, while John Egan (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), George Baldock (unspecified) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) are all out.
A reshuffle is inevitable for the Blades after last weekend's disasterclass, and a multitude of alterations should see all of Robinson, Gustavo Hamer, Tom Davies, Yasser Larouci and Cameron Archer come into Wilder's thinking.
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Bell, Osho, Burke; Ogbene, Barkley, Lokonga, Doughty; Townsend, Morris; Adebayo
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Bogle, Hamer, Souza, Larouci; McAtee, Archer, Brereton Diaz
We say: Luton Town 3-1 Sheffield United
Confidence levels could hardly be more contrasting between the two camps right now, and while morale is not the be all an end all - see Chelsea's 3-1 FA Cup beating of Aston Villa - there is little to suggest that Sheffield United can spring a surprise on Saturday.
Becoming the first newly-promoted team to score four goals in three-straight games in the Premier League era might be beyond Edwards's side, whose wonderful run will come to an end at some point, but the Hatters crowd should be revelling in another statement win this weekend as Sheffield United's demotion woes deepen further.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
