Our live stream ahead of Sundays Premier League match, Sheffield United vs Tottenham is now up, kicking off at 14.00 GMT
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Sheffield United come into the game off the back of their first Premier League win of the season and will head into this fixture with some pressure having been lifted off their shoulders for the first time in months.
While the home side are nine points behind 17th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, the midweek triumph over Newcastle United has given hope to Chris Wilder’s team as they bid to avoid relegation.
Although the victories over Bristol Rovers and Newcastle were far from pretty, Wilder will be ecstatic that an 18-match winless streak has been brought to an end.
The fact that their 1-0 success against an unimaginative Newcastle side came courtesy of a penalty will not be lost on Wilder, but it has at least set the ball rolling with regards to making up ground on the teams above them.
Spurs meanwhile have put together a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions, giving enough reasons for Jose Mourinho to feel positive about the development of his Spurs side.
However, conceding late equalisers against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham is the difference between sixth and second, and it has left the Portuguese demanding more of a ruthless streak from his players.
Some will argue that Mourinho also has a responsibility to deploy more attack-minded tactics, a debate which will inevitably be played down by the Spurs boss given his success in the past.
Nevertheless, the North London outfit are at a stage in their campaign where they need to turn draws into victories, especially this weekend with four of the top seven playing each other.
Sheffield United and Spurs last faced off in June, with the Blades winning 3-1 at Bramall Lane…
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Chris Wilder
Feel good coming in off the back of two wins?
“Bit different isn’t it? It’s where you want to be going into an incredibly tough game.”
“An upturn in mood, which you would expect after a result against Bristol Rovers and a much-improved performance and deserved victory over Newcastle”
Is the belief back in the players?
“After the game I said it to the local press – the players just played well. They played where they should be playing and it allowed us to win a game of football in the PL”
“I look through the team afterwards and we weren’t carrying anyone, no one struggling for form or belief, on that one-off game they played well and we are going to have to do that on Sunday – both wing-backs played well, the midfield three were excellent we had a threat at the top end of the pitch and three at the back played well – Rhian coming on gave us a spark in second half”
Players celebrating goals
“You are caught up in the game – I apologise personally if my comments were found to be insensitive – we will do our best – managers have been on the call with the Premier League and we have had some instructions – I don’t think I was on my own as a manager the majority of managers have said the same and we have to adapt and do better, which we will do.”
Two good results last season against Spurs
“Need another good performance – Jose is my favourite manager in the PL – I have enormous respect.”
“I really like him and I know he splits opinion but he’s box office and he’s a winner – I believe he will have watched us because of how he goes about his business they are a fabulous side and he’s one of the main men in world football”
Team news
“Got seven out for the weekend – which is a big chunk of our squad – yet again not been great for us”
“We had everyone available last year and it does affect us”
January window
“Nothing to report on that front”
Why the transfer delay?
Nothing to talk about in the transfers if I am honest.
“I talk about the team nothing to talk about incomings and outgoings – there won’t be anyone going out because of the injuries and numbers and nothing to report incomings.”
Is McBurnie close?
“He’s working away – he’s been out on the grass today – difficult one because of the nature of the injury with Oli – the nature of that has to be tested in training”
“He has come through the early parts of his recovery – still got another day to go but he’s a doubt – it’s really day by day with Oli”
What you expecting from Spurs?
“They are right up there – the manager will be frustrated with late goals that I should imagine looking at the manager’s career he will be a little bit frustrated with – take those late goals off it would affect their points total and they would be right up there at the top of the league – they have some outstanding players and a manager that is the best in the business”
Does their recent results give you optimism?
“I have got to say I am just looking at my own team and making sure we are competitive – they have got players who can hurt you.”
“These are incredible players, incredible players on the bench and some fabulous players who don’t even get in their squad and we have to play to the best of our ability”
“We took the big moments last season. We came roaring back at their place, great attitude and a fabulous performance and another really good one here – even on that day Harry Kane got about four but had three wiped off – they just have incredible quality – we are going to have to produce a really good performance”
What did Jose say last time?
“He gets the game and understands the game. The time I have met him he’s been a fabulous man to talk to”
“Met him in the hotel after the Chelsea game and you get nervous inside – I am 53 and still nervous talking to Jose – he was complimentary of how we played and hopefully he is complimentary on Sunday.”
“I am not embarrassed about my journey – the PL is full of characters and brilliant managers and for me he is top of the tree”
Who gets the job of marking Kane, he seems to be playing deeper these days?
“Hope so, hope he’s playing centre half.”
Is the pressure off now
“The pressure has been off for the last two seasons because rightly so we should have been written off when we first stepped into the division – that doesn’t change for me, the outside perception changes because of what you achieve but nothing changes for me – we are underdogs in a really competitive division – I have said all along that we have nothing to lose”
Jose Mourinho
Team News
““Gio (Lo Celso) will be out for a little while. We have two training sessions before the game, but there are no more problems. Steven (Bergwijn) was ill the week before, the week of Marine, and then he trained with the team one day last week, the day before we played Fulham. It was not a muscular injury, not that, he was ill.”
Naturally disappointed with the draw against Fulham this week, nevertheless, we’ve had just two defeats in our last 18 matches in all competitions – how did Jose gauge the mood at the moment?
“I have to be the first one to never be happy. I have to be the first one to always want more and more and more. Yes, two defeats in 18, but that could be one instead of two, and could be more victories instead of as many draws we have.”
“The difference between one draw and one victory is two points, and the difference between one point and three points in the majority of the cases is also a small, big detail. That small, big detail is the goal that kills the match, or a defensive mistake that allows the opponent to take a point and be happy with that. We could be better.”
What do Spurs need to change to go on and win the games we’ve drawn from winning positions…
“We need to score the goals we can, and not to make mistakes that punish us. If you compare Hugo’s (Lloris) performance to (Alphonse) Areola’s (against Fulham), you have an answer.”
“Areola made a couple of impossible saves that would kill the match, also we hit the post. Then, a defensive mistake and a goal. That’s it. It looks complicated but it’s simple, basic analysing of the game.”
What does he expect from the Blades on Sunday?
“If you look to the table it’s one thing, but if you look to them, to the team, to the performances, it’s a completely different story. Many, many times tables don’t reflect what the teams are, and in this case, for sure, it doesn’t reflect what the team is.”
“Even their results… I don’t think there are many matches where they clearly lost. In the majority of their matches it was 0-1, 1-2. They are a team who play the way they did last season, with the same principles, the same threat they were.”
“I don’t see many differences. Of course, the table is a huge difference in position with the number of points, but they are a very difficult team.”
How would you compare the Sheffield United of last season with the Sheffield United of this season?
“The same. They are not the worst team in the Premier League, at all. They are much, much better than what the table says. If you analyse their matches, many times their opponent wasn’t better than them, and many times it was one of those small, big details that decides the score, the points and the table.”
FORM:
Sheffield United Premier League form: LDLLLW
Sheffield United form (all competitions): DLLLWW
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form: DLLDWD
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions): WDWWWD
LINEUPS:
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Basham, Egan, Ampadu; Bogle, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Osborn; McGoldrick, Burke
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Moura, Ndombele, Son; Kane
THATSAGOAL TIP:
Harry Kane to Score – 21/20 with FanTeam
Kane started the season as the Premier League’s new playmaking sensation but has quietly returned to his primary role of scoring goals since then. Another goal in the 1-1 draw with Fulham takes the England striker up to 11 for the season, just two behind Mo Salah.
Sheffield United rarely ship many and finally picked up their first win against Newcastle in the week. Nevertheless, Spurs are heavy favourites and should clinch a (likely narrow) victory. Kane to score at over evens looks kind.
Time to take a look at our Sheffield United vs Tottenham live match stream as it happens…
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