Match Preview: Sheffield United hungry to break 26-year record at Chelsea

Frank Lampard’s charges host another newly promoted team on Saturday as Sheffield United pay a visit to the Stamford Bridge with a singular aim of ending a long standing ugly record.

Chelsea last weekend earned Frank Lampard a throughly enjoyable first victory as manager after a thrilling contest at Carrow Road ended 3-2 in the Blues favour.

The Blues are up against another newly promoted club and would fancy the chance to claim their first three points at home against a Sheffield United side that they have not lost to since 1993.

However, Chelsea face a Sheffield United team that have shown they aren’t afraid of venturing forward since they gained promotion to the top flight.

The Blades have found the net in each of their 4 competitive games this season and have picked up 4 points in 3 games in the Premier League, replicating the philosophy that earned them promotion last term.

And against Frank Lampard’s men who are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have already shipped 9 goals in their 4 competitive matches, the Blades should find some joy going forward. That should give the Chelsea manager a lot to worry about.

This new look Chelsea side are however the favourites to emerge victorious, having won a massive 66 of their 80 Premier League home games against newly promoted oppositions.

Man to watch

Eden Hazard’s departure to Real Madrid left the Londoners without a talisman and American Christian Pulisic is widely expected to be the man to step into the Belgian’s creative shoes.

But it is Mason Mount who has been receiving all the plaudits. The 20 year old has notched in his last 2 Premier League games. Including his time at Derby last season, the Englishman has now scored 7 goals in his last 15 league appearances, and considering his performances this season he looks good to find the net again.

What the managers say

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard:
‘They (Sheffield United) have started well. I was hugely impressed with them last season, their style of play and formation.

‘The job Chris [Wilder] has done there can’t be underestimated, and I don’t think it is. The recognition he has got is very well deserved – to take that club from where he has, to play with a style and identity he has, when he is a man who feels deeply about the club. I felt that when we went to Sheffield United last year on the line next to him.

‘I look forward to going up against him, against a good team who have stuck to their principles and who will give teams in this league a lot of problems.’

Predicted Chelsea XI:

Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho, Barkley; Pulisic, Abraham, Mount.