Aston Villa vs Sheffield United Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

20 September 2020 16:30

A Sheffield United side with a point to prove will travel on Monday to face an Aston Villa team that haven't actually kicked off their 2020/21 Premier League season yet.

The last time the two teams faced one another, they were kicking off the league's 'Project Restart', and Villa managed to earn one of the jammiest points in top-flight history as Hawk-Eye somehow failed to spot goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland literally carrying the ball across the line.

After this point helped contribute to their last-gasp, too-close-for-comfort survival, Villa will be aiming for a rather less chaotic season after making (another) raft of exciting signings over the summer.

Their opposition on Monday will be licking their wounds after their bubble was burst within 10 minutes of their curtain-raiser against Wolves.


Where to Watch on TV

When is Kick Off? Monday 21 September
What Time is Kick Off?
18:00 (BST)
Where is it Being Played?
Villa Park
TV Channel/Live Stream?
Sky Sports Main Event
Referee?
Graham Scott


Team News

Neither side are badly effected by injury, but Aston Villa have had to contend with one particularly nasty long-term knock in the form of Wesley's damaged knee ligaments, which will see him sidelined for some time.

An achilles injury to defender Björn Engels means that he won't feature for the foreseeable future, while Tom Heaton's own knee injury, which kicked off Villa's goalkeeping merry-go-round last season, will sideline him until the start of October at least.

Lys Mousset will be missing for the Blades after he picked up a rather unusual injury, damaging the ligaments in his toe of all places, while if you were hoping to see reserve goalkeeper Simon Moore in action, you'll be disappointed to hear he has a broken finger.


Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane; Trezeguet, Watkins, Grealish

Sheffield United: Ramsdale; Baldock, Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Stevens; Lundstram, Berge, Fleck; McBurnie, McGoldrick


Recent Form

There isn't much recent form of Aston Villa's to go by, unless you count their stirring pre-season friendly victory over Manchester United (which we won't), although they did triumph in a midweek League Cup encounter with Burton Albion, where Ollie Watkins scored on debut.

Sheffield United, meanwhile, are embroiled in something of a mini-crisis (or what passes for one these days), conceding two in ten minutes as they kicked off the new season against Wolves, before bowing out to the League Cup to Burnley on penalties. Not that it's anything for Chris Wilder to worry about just yet, but that now means that Sheffield United have lost their last five games in all competitions.

Here's a look at how the two teams have fared recently (and not-so-recently)...

Aston Villa

Burton Albion 1-3 Aston Villa (15/9)
West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa (26/7)
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal (21/7)
Everton 1-1 Aston Villa (16/7)
Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace (12/7)

Sheffield United

Burnley 1-1 Sheffield United (17/9)
Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves (14/9)
Southampton 3-1 Sheffield United (26/7)
Sheffield United 0-1 Everton (20/7)
Leicester 2-0 Sheffield United (16/7)


Prediction

Sheffield United are in one of the trickier patches they've been in since Wilder got them promoted, but if there's one defining quality of the current side it's resilience and a determination to upset the odds.

With that being said, Villa themselves have shown much intent in the transfer market, and with a more balanced squad this season could quietly establish themselves as a serious threat. Watkins in particular looks a player made for Premier League football, and it won't be a surprise if he gets off the mark on the first time of asking.

Expect a gritty, spirited draw between the two sides.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Sheffield United

Source: 90min