Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace Odds
| Sheffield United Odds | +200 |
| Crystal Palace Odds | +137 |
| Draw | +230 |
| Over / Under | 2.5 +120/-150 |
Sheffield United make their return to the Premier League on Saturday when they host Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane.
The Blades earned an automatic promotion spot after an outstanding season in the Championship. Sheffield United only spent two seasons in the second division and bring with them a style of play that is well-suited for the Premier League and especially their chances of surviving relegation.
Crystal Palace had a great end to the season last year under their former manager Roy Hodgson, so they decided to sign on the 75-year-old manager for one more season. Things have gotten a little stale at Selhurst Park as the Eagles didn't do much in the transfer market to improve their squad, so they are most likely headed for a bottom half of the table finish this year.
Sheffield United
Crystal Palace were a very good defensive team last season against lesser competition. Against the bottom eight offenses in the Premier League, Palace only allowed only 0.94 xG per match. They had a really bad defensive start to the season, but this is a really solid back line that has been together now for three years with Guehi and Anderson as the center back pairing, Doucoure starred as their defensive midfielder last season, so this is going to be once again a top seven defense in the Premier League especially with Roy Hodgson at the helm.
You have to ask the question, how are Crystal Palace scoring? Wilfried Zaha, who led them in xG per 90 minutes at 0.27 is gone to Galatasaray. Michael Olise, who is their best creator and had 11 assists last season, is injured and most likely leaving this transfer window. This was already an offense that averaged 0.97 npxG last season, so how are they getting better?
Crystal Palace
Similarly, how are Sheffield United scoring in this match? They just sold their best player Illman Ndiaye to Marseille. THeir next-best attacking option was Oliver McBurnie, who scored 13 goals. He’s questionable to play in this match. Next leading goalscorer for them last season was James McAtee. He was on loan from Manchester City and they didn’t make the transfer permanent. Finally, Sander Berge is leaving for Burnley.
The good news is Sheffield United will be a good defensive team. They are set up to play in a 5-3-2 out of possession and they are not a possession0dominant side so they know how to defend in a low block. With this being their first match back in the Premier League, I expect them to stay very compact rather than the high-pressing style that made them famous in the Championship.
Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace
Betting Pick & Prediction
There is nowhere else to look for this match other than the under. Sheffield United will have zero offensive threats if McBurnie ends up not being able to play, unless they score off of a fluke corner.
Crystal Palace were an underrated defense last season. They got torched by some of the better teams in the Premier League, but given their performances against lower tier competition, I don't see how Sheffield United are threatening their net.
For Crystal Palace, offense is going to be an issue. It looks like right now they are going to have to be reliant on Eberechi Eze, Odsonne Édouard and Jordan Ayew to be the main offensive threats against an incredibly compact low block.
I only have 1.87 goals projected for this match, so I like the value on the under.
Pick: Under 2.5 (-145 via Caesars)
