Sheffield United will be relegated from the Premier League if they fail to beat top-six hopefuls Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams enter this contest on the back of midweek losses away from home; while the Magpies suffered defeat at Crystal Palace, the Blades were put to the sword by Manchester United.
Match preview
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After accumulating 10 points from four Premier League matches, Newcastle were in buoyant mood heading into Wednesday's meeting with Crystal Palace and Eddie Howe's side had 11 days to rest and recover for the contest at Selhurst Park.
However, the Magpies lacked a cutting edge in the final third and were condemned to their 10th away league defeat of the season, with Jean-Philippe Mateta netting a second-half brace to seal a 2-0 victory for the Eagles.
Newcastle have subsequently slipped to seventh in the Premier League table, two points above eighth-placed West Ham United, who have played a game more, and three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United, who beat the Magpies' next opponents Sheffield United 4-2 at Old Trafford in midweek.
Still firmly in the mix to secure Europa League football for next season, Newcastle have two favourable-looking fixtures on the horizon against the Premier League's bottom-two clubs Sheffield United and Burnley; the Magpies ran riot in an 8-0 demolition of the Blades in the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane in September last year.
Newcastle will welcome a return to St James' Park where they have won three and drawn one of their last four league matches, scoring 12 goals in the process, while they have not lost any of their eight top-flight home games against promoted sides since Howe's appointment in November 2021, so there is reason for the Magpies to be optimistic of success on Saturday.
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In a season full of doom and gloom, Sheffield United's spirited display in Wednesday's encounter at Manchester United represented one of their high points, even though they came away on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline.
The Blades were ahead twice in the entertaining contest, with Jayden Bogle and Ben Brereton Diaz netting either side of a Harry Maguire equaliser. However, Bruno Fernandes inspired a comeback for the Red Devils by netting two goals and assisting Rasmus Hojlund in the final half-hour to condemn Chris Wilder's side to their 24th league defeat of the campaign.
Sheffield United have now conceded 92 goals in 34 Premier League matches this term, surpassing the previous record for a 38-game season held by Derby County (89) during their infamous 2007-08 campaign, and a run of 10 games without a win has put them on the brink of relegation back to the Championship.
Sitting rock bottom and 10 points adrift of safety, Sheffield United will be relegated from the Premier League if they fail to beat Newcastle on Saturday. Even if they were to draw or win against the Magpies, their fate will be sealed if 17th-placed Nottingham Forest match or better their result when they host Manchester City on Sunday.
Although Sheffield United are not mathematically down just yet, Wilder has acknowledged "the inevitable will happen" and that his side "just have pride to play for" in their remaining four fixtures as a top-flight club. Only once have the Blades celebrated a Premier League away victory against Newcastle - Danny Webber scored the only goal in a 1-0 win back in November 2006 under former boss Neil Warnock.
Team News
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Newcastle's lengthy injury list includes Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both ACL), Joe Willock, Matt Targett (both Achilles), Lewis Miley (back), Nick Pope (shoulder), Kieran Trippier (calf), Miguel Almiron (knee) and Joelinton (thigh).
However, Callum Wilson returned to the matchday squad in midweek and made a 25-minute cameo appearance off the substitutes' bench after missing the previous 10 games with a pectoral injury. The Magpies striker is in contention to feature again on Saturday, while Valentino Livramento will be assessed as he is yet to fully recover from an ankle issue.
Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak were among the eight different scorers in the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane and all four are expected to retain their starting spots this time around; Isak has been in red-hot form at St James' Park, scoring eight goals in his last six home league appearances.
As for Sheffield United, Oli McBurnie has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a groin injury and he joins Max Lowe, John Egan, Chris Basham (all ankle), George Baldock (calf), Rhys Norrington-Davies, Tom Davies (both thigh) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) in the treatment room.
Jack Robinson (ankle) and Rhian Brewster (thigh) are both doubtful, as is James McAtee who is waiting for the results of a scan after picking up an unspecified injury in midweek. Bogle also sustained an issue against Man United, but Wilder is hopeful that the defender will be "OK" to feature on Saturday.
Twenty-year-old midfielder Oliver Arblaster captained his boyhood club for the first time in midweek and is in contention to both start and keep the armband on Saturday, while Wes Foderingham will hope he has done enough to retain his place in goal ahead of Ivo Grbic after an impressive display at Old Trafford.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Murphy, Krafth, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson; Gordon, Isak, Barnes
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Bogle, Souza, Arblaster, Hamer, Osborn; Brereton Diaz, Archer
We say: Newcastle United 4-0 Sheffield United
Although Newcastle struggled to find the net in midweek, they have scored in all 17 of their Premier League home matches this season, and after netting eight goals in the reverse fixture against Sheffield United, they will be confident of success in the final third this weekend.
With relegation looming, the Blades will be keen to end the campaign on a positive note, but Wilder's leaky backline may have difficulty stopping a fired-up Magpies outfit who are keen to return to winning ways in a bid to boost their European hopes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
