Sheffield United lost 2-0 at Goodison Park last Saturday before plunging 4-2 at home to Birmingham City on Tuesday night in the League Cup. Adi Akinbiyi and Nick Montgomery netting for United; DJ Campbell, Nicklas Bendtner, Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson all firing for the visitors.
The Blades are expected to make ten to eleven changes to that; that lost to City and reverie to a similar formation that played against the Toffees.
United are expected to name Claude Davis in the team line-up; the Jamaican severed a one match suspension after being sent off during the defeat at Everton.
Meanwhile the Blades are likely to return to the traditional 4-4-2 formation to out wit Chelsea. Currently the Blades are the only side in the top flight to not be suffering with any injuries.
Should Neil Shipperley (forward) start for the first time this season then he will face his former club; the striker started his career at Stamford Bridge in 1992 playing 35 games (13) and netted 9 goals. He joined Watford on loan before signing for Southampton in 1995.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Leigh Bromby, Phil Jagielka, Claude Davis, Chris Armstrong, Keith Gillespie, Nick Montgomery, Michael Tonge, Colin Kazim-Richards, Rob Hulse, Danny Webber.
Chelsea, currently joint top of the Premier League with Manchester United celebrated a 2-1 success over Portsmouth last Saturday before seeing off Blackburn Rovers (2-0) in the Carling Cup.
The visitors to Bramall Lane are currently suffering two serious injuries; both of which are to keepers Peter Cech (fractured skull) and Carlo Cudicini (concussion) which both players sustained during the 1-0 victory at Reading on 14 October. Cech may return to the side but is unexpected.
Possible Blues Line-Up: Henrique Hilario, Renato Paulo Ferreira, John Terry, Richardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Andriy Schevchenko, Arjen Robben.
Man in the Middle: Martin. Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
- 19.03.2005 - Blades 2-1 Burnley
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Chelsea