Mark Lawrenson has been very complimentary about Sheffield United in his predictions for Saturday’s clash with Manchester City.
Lawro infamously backed the Blades to lose almost every game last season. It took quite some time before he admitted he may have them wrong.
Unfortunately, this time around the same prediction would be correct. United have lost five of their six Premier League matches so far this term.
Their only point of 2020/21 came in a 1-1 draw with Fulham. They are also the lowest scorers in the division with just three goals.
Things don’t get any easier this weekend, with Man City visiting Bramall Lane. Yet Lawrenson was impressed what he saw from Chris Wilder’s side last time out.
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They lost 2-1 at Liverpool, but put in a decent performance against the Champions. Lawro expects to see more of the same this time around.
“Sheffield United are still without a win in 2020-21 but they created lots of chances at Anfield in their defeat by Liverpool last time out,” he wrote in his BBC Sport column.
“That was arguably the Blades’ best performance of the season so far. I think they will be pretty direct again here, and they can cause City problems.”
The 63-year-old still thinks the Blades will lose 2-0, however.
Manchester City are a tough task for Sheffield United
(Photo by Manchester City FC/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
There were few sides that truly outclassed United last term when they finished ninth in their first top flight campaign in 12 years. But City were one of them.
Unsurprising really, considering Pep Guardiola has assembled a hugely expensive squad of superstars. That said, they too have struggled for form so far this season.
Guardiola’s men have eight points from five games and sit in 13th position. They have been beaten at home by Leicester City and drawn with Leeds United and West Ham United.
This is far from the dominant Citizens team we saw in 2017/18 and 2018/19. So, perhaps this is a good time to face them.
