English Premier League Soccer - Sheffield United vs. Tottenham, 7/2/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds
Three consecutive defeats in all competitions bring 9th-placed Sheffield United to a home game against 7th-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who are unbeaten in three straight games. Kick-off - at 13:00 PM ET on Thursday, July 2.
Sheffield United Extend Losing Run
The losing streak of Sheffield United extended to three games in all competitions after the team dropped two decisions in a row in a matter of five days last week. The Blades followed up the 3-0 road defeat against Newcastle United on June 21 with another 3-0 loss, this time versus Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, before dropping a 2-1 decision against Arsenal in the quarter-final of the FA Cup four days later. Sheffield United have lost three consecutive matches in all comps only for the second time since manager Chris Wilder’s appointment in 2016. The team is 9th in the league (W11 D11 L9), sitting just one point outside the top-seven.
No Blades player has scored more Premier League markers this season than midfielder John Fleck and forward Lys Mousset, with both having found the back of the net on five occasions. Goalie Dean Henderson, meanwhile, sits 10th in the league with 81 saves. He has recorded 11 clean sheets in 29 contests during the ongoing campaign and allows a goal every 104 minutes of play. Sheffield United are 15th in most goals netted this year (30), the bottom of the league in shots taken per game (9.7), 17th in ball possession (45.1%) and 16th in passing accuracy (75.0%).
Tottenham Extend Unbeaten Streak
Tottenham Hotspur went unbeaten for a third consecutive outing (W1 D2) after banking a 2-0 home victory against West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Wednesday. An own goal by the Hammers and Harry Kane’s 30th career Premier League London derby snipe gave Spurs their first EPL home win since Feb. 2 (2-0 versus Manchester City), earning manager Jose Mourinho his 300th victory in English soccer. The triumph has ended a four-game winless run (D2 L2) in the league for Tottenham, who sit 7th in the standings with a W12 D9 L10 record, trailing the top-five by seven points, but with a game in hand.
With 12 goals buried this year in the league, English striker Kane leads Spurs in scoring. He has banked three snipes in his last five appearances. Goalie Hugo Lloris, meanwhile, sits 16th in the EPL with 59 saves. He has posted three clean sheets in 14 outings this season and gives up a goal every 79 minutes on average. Tottenham have netted the 6th highest number of goals during the current campaign (50) while delivering the 10th highest quantity of shots per game (12.2). The team is 8th in both ball possession (51.8%) and passing accuracy (81.2%).
Prediction
Sheffield United are without a victory in all competitions since the restart of English soccer (D1 L3) and will be keen to keep their European ambitions alive when hosting Tottenham Hotspur, who are unbeaten in their last three Premier League fixtures (W1 D2). Three of Sheffield’s last four outings, though, have been contested away from home (D1 L2), with their last-minute 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final being the only domestic setback of the Blades following the coronavirus break. In fact, the South Yorkshire club has lost just two of its last 11 home contests in the league (W6 D3 L2) and has gone unbeaten versus Spurs in their last three EPL meetings in Sheffield (W2 D1). With just one win on their past nine travels in all competitions (W1 D5 L3), Tottenham will definitely be faced with quite a task here!
Best bet:
Sheffield United Double Chance (Win or Draw) (-125)