Sheff Utd v Man City | Match Preview, Odds and Prediction
Manchester City travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon and are big favourites to pick up all three points. City have enjoyed a 100% start to the season while United have a 0% win ratio in their first two games, so it’s little surprise the bookmakers fancy an away victory.
Sheff Utd have endured two narrow defeats and will be desperate to get off the mark, but they face a side that had the second-best away record in the Premier League last season. As a result, Man City are 1/5 with Bet UK To Win. The Blades have had closer encounters with City at home, so Sheff Utd are 17/1 with Betfair To Win. United and City are 7/1 with Bet 365 To Draw.
City won the Premier League title last season with the joint-fewest defeats (5) and joint-best defensive record (33), so they’re expected to put United to the sword without conceding. Pep Guardiola’s men are 31/40 with Bet Victor To Win To Nil while Both Teams Not To Score are 4/6 with Betfair.
As for the hosts, Paul Heckingbottom’s side won promotion to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship. United had the second-best defensive record in the league and were the second-best side on home soil, so they won’t be a walkover on Sunday.
Sheff Utd boasted more than two goals per game at Bramall Lane last season, so they might fancy their chances of scoring past the defending champions. City averaged just shy of two goals per game on the road in 2022/23, so Both Teams To Score is 6/4 with William Hill while Total Goals Over 2.5 is 4/7 with Betfair.
City have enjoyed five wins from their last five head-to-heads with the Blades, scoring eight goals while conceding none. They haven’t lost a game to United since 2008 and bookmakers don’t believe their 15-year dominance in this fixture will come to an end on Sunday.
United might struggle for goals this campaign as they’re relying on William Osula who netted only twice for League One side Derby County last season. The 20-year-old is 20/1 with Bet 365 to be the First Goalscorer and 7/1 with Bet 365 to Score Anytime.
Bénie Traoré joined over the summer after scoring 12 goals in 14 Allsvenskan games, so he’s United’s biggest goal threat. The 20-year-old attacker is 18/1 with Sporting Index to be the First Goalscorer and 11/2 with SkyBet to Score Anytime.
City’s goal threats are endless, however. Erling Haaland scored 36 league goals last season, so he’s one to watch on Sunday. The 23-year-old is 21/10 with Paddy Power to be the First Goalscorer and 1/2 with William Hill to Score Anytime.
Julian Alvarez, who scored 17 goals across the board last season and has already netted this campaign, is 5/1 with Boyle Sports to be the First Goalscorer and 13/8 with William Hill to Score Anytime. Jeremy Doku, who recently joined from Rennes and scored more league goals (6) than Jack Grealish (5) and Riyad Mahrez (5), is 7/1 with Paddy Power to be the First Goalscorer and 11/5 with Betfair to Score Anytime.
Prediction: Sheff Utd 1-3 Man City
