Sheffield United could sack manager Paul Heckingbottom if his side lose at Arsenal on Saturday, paving the way for former Blades boss Chris Wilder, 53, whose last job was at Watford last season. (Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has been speaking to the media before Saturday's trip to Arsenal in the Premier League.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
George Baldock is available again, with Will Osula and Max Lowe getting closer but he said that his team is currently down to its "absolute bare bones."
He said it has not been easy to keep morale high but believed that "things haven't gone our way, whether it's been the injuries, whether it's been moments on the pitch" referenced Spurs away [conceding two goals in stoppage time to lose 2-1] and Pickford's save with his head against Everton.
He wants his players to relish games like this as he sees Arsenal to be "one of the biggest, if not the biggest" tests of the season, and that "anyone finishing above them this season probably wins the league."
On previous good performances against Tottenham and Manchester United: "I'd take a worse performance than all those and points."
On Auston Trusty who joined Sheffield United from Arsenal and has started the last two games: "He's got the athleticism to play at this level, he's got a desire and mentality to improve."
He revealed the defender took extra sessions when he wasn't starting to improve his chances.
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Image source, Getty ImagesAuston Trusty believes it will "just take one game" to turn Sheffield United's season around.
Despite sitting bottom of the Premier League table with one point from nine games, the Blades have come close to taking points off leaders Tottenham, champions Manchester City and also Manchester United last time out.
They have another tough test against third-placed Arsenal on Saturday, but the former Gunners player believes they have a chance of getting a result and turning their form around.
"It's hard, looking at the results you would think we're getting smacked every single game and we're not winning, but we've been in a lot of games and it just hasn't gone our way," said the defender in a pre-match news conference.
"It would be unfair to say we've been totally out of games [or] we've been getting totally wrecked this entire year, but it's not true because we actually have been in games and had a lot of opportunities to have success in this league.
"All it takes is one result and then all of a sudden what everyone has been saying about us totally changes, now we have momentum and that's all it takes. It just takes one game, one moment, one goal, so that's where it is - you build this momentum and it all adds up."
Rob Staton, BBC Radio Sheffield
It’s pretty incredible how quickly things change in football. It was only a few months ago that life couldn’t be much better for Sheffield United fans. An exciting promotion race accompanied a strong FA Cup run to the semi-finals.
We were actually discussing on air the merits of going ‘all in’ to get to Wembley versus resting players for the league run-in.
Now our phone-ins are a mix of people calling for the manager to go and others passionately defending Paul Heckingbottom, noting (rightly, in my opinion) that nothing about United’s summer was conducive to starting the Premier League season on the front foot.
I think the saddest thing though is the sense of apathy from others. I’ve seen messages on X from Blades fans almost resigned to their fate. It brings up the debate as to whether promotion to the Premier League is all it’s cracked up to be? Is the journey better than the destination?
A spirited performance against Manchester United was typical of this Blades side, but the injuries continue to mount and a trip to Arsenal this weekend feels ominous.
If there’s anything to cling on to it’s perhaps the way teams like Southampton gave the Gunners a game at the Emirates last season. It’s starting to feel like United need something pretty spectacular to give the fans a needed boost and the club a spark in the top flight.
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Arsenal are unbeaten in 18 home meetings with Sheffield United in all competitions (W13 D5) since a 1-0 top-flight defeat in August 1971.
Sheffield United have won just two of their 32 Premier League away games against London sides (D8 L22), beating Chelsea 2-1 in October 1992 and Crystal Palace 1-0 in February 2020. Since that Palace victory, they’ve lost their last nine in the capital in the top-flight.
Arsenal remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season (W6 D3), with no side keeping more clean sheets than the Gunners heading into MD10 (4). Following their 1-0 win against Man City before the international break, Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to record consecutive home clean sheets in the league for the first time since December 2021 (a run of four).
Sheffield United remain winless in the Premier League this season, taking just one point from their nine games so far (L8). Only the Blades themselves in 2020-21 have taken as few as one point from their opening 10 games in a Premier League campaign.
This is the latest into an English top-flight season (10th game) that an unbeaten team (Arsenal) and a winless team (Sheffield United) have faced since 1923-24, when unbeaten Cardiff drew 1-1 at home with winless Preston in their 11th game of the campaign.
Ben Meakin, BladesPod, external
It might seem odd to praise a centre-back when he’s part of the worst defence in the league (and, by some metrics, in Europe) – but Jack Robinson deserves his moment in the spotlight.
He was the least-heralded of our backline coming into this season – although he was perfectly solid in last season’s promotion charge – and there was plenty of chat in the summer about our need to upgrade at his position. Arguably, the club thought likewise, bringing in fellow left-footed centre-back Auston Trusty. Trusty, though, has found opportunities limited until the last few weeks, as Robinson has been consistently one of our better performers in every game.
In a season where we’ve been frequently outmuscled as well as outplayed, 'Robbo' has stood up to – or slid straight through – every test. Would he start for any of the other 19 Premier League teams? Almost certainly not. But that’s part of the charm: he’s probably the only outfield player at the club who can hold up his hands so far and say "I played to the best of my ability, every game".
Robinson’s availability also shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s the last man standing of our first-choice defence (wing-backs included) which has been annihilated by serious injuries. And in a season where we’ve struggled for crowd-rousing moments, him dumping £40m-worth of Manchester United midfielder into the Bramall Lane stands will never not be appreciated.
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Simon Stone, BBC Sport
It was another frustrating weekend for Sheffield United, who performed well for long periods against Manchester United, only to end up coming away with nothing, just as they did against Manchester City and Tottenham earlier this season.
One point from their opening nine games leaves Paul Heckingbottom's side bottom of the Premier League and reflecting on the wisdom of selling Sander Berge to Burnley and Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille before the season began.
If there is some consolation for manager Paul Heckingbottom is comes in the knowledge his side are only four points behind Luton, who are fourth-bottom, and none of the bottom six won.
"We are not in a league against Manchester United," said Heckingbottom. "We are realistic to know what our aims are in the league we are in.
"We had to make decisions this summer about the future of the club, not about short term performance. We accepted that but when you are facing teams like this every week, you wish you had done the opposite.
"It doesn’t mean we can’t compete. One point from nine is not good enough but our league is not Manchester United, it is about the rest of the bottom six."
We asked for your views on Saturday's game between Sheffield United and Manchester United.
Here are some of your comments:
Sheff United fans
John: While Sheffield United’s bad luck with injuries continue and we can’t pass out of defence to our own players, we will continue the downward spiral sadly.
Richard: It was rubbish, the side cannot play together and do not link at all. The only player that looked hungry was McBurnie. We are relegated and that’s that.
Eric: I think it was a good display against the odds. Should it give us some kind of hope? Well done United.
Man United fans
Cameron: They are well behind City, Arsenal and Liverpool. In Ten Hag I do not think he is the man to take United forward. Bad buys, poor coaching. We play with nine men against most teams, it's obvious to supporters where the weak links are. I can not see this United winning a major title.
Paul: I have major concerns about the rest of our season. United look a shadow version of themselves from last season. Rashford plays well in a England shirt, but looks void of confidence in a United shirt. On a positive, Maguire has found his form and is, at this moment in time, United's best player. Fernandes is dreadful and cannot pass long balls, dreadful display.
Gerry: Let's not forget we are in 10th position and were playing against the bottom team with one point. Most of the time it was hard to know which was which! Lots of journey men players paid way too much. If Ten Hag stays he should be given very little say in transfers. Personally I think he should go, he is clearly out of his depth.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba's assessment of the loss to Manchester United on the Blades Heaven Podcast: "That was one of the best 45 minutes I've seen in the last two seasons, I thought they were brilliant. Everything we asked from this team, the passion, desire, work-rate, determination, and the ability as well.
"It was a massive loss losing McBurnie - him and Archer were brilliant. When you lose McBurnie, you lose so much going forward and defensively. The formation was much better, but the actual application was much better today. No matter what formation you put out, I thought the application in the last two games wasn't there but full credit to the boys today.
"There were questions about the manager, whether he could rally the boys or had their heads gone. You can't doubt what they have given, they ran their socks off for the manager and that's all you can ask. They can be proud of what they've done for us today."
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis of Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, then fear not- you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.
And Match of the Day 2 brings you a round-up of Sunday's games here.
Listen back to Saturday's commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:
Listen back to Sunday's commentary in full on BBC Sounds:
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom speaking to Sky Sports: "I've said to the players that we have to build on that. We've had many performances like that. Today we had to change our shape with the injuries. Losing your captain and vice captain and other players in the last 10 days have not been ideal but it's an opportunity for other players.
"We adapted really well. Playing against top-class players we need to do a lot more work on it. We looked dangerous and defended very well.
"I know United had a lot of the ball and hit the bar but it was from outside the box and the winner is from 25-yards into the top corner as well. It's frustrating but it's a tough league."
Simon Stone, BBC Sport
On another day, against another opponent, Sheffield United would have won their latest game in the Premier League.
As was the case against Manchester City and Tottenham, Paul Heckingbottom's side competed for long periods, got a goal and fancied their chances of getting a result.
But, yet again, they lost.
It would be easy to feel hard done by. Cameron Archer forced two good first-half saves out of Andre Onana and substitute Rhian Brewster's fizzing shot also caused the Cameroon goalkeeper a major problem in keeping it out.
Is it harsh to suggest on at least one of those occasions, Onana shouldn't have been given an opportunity to save? Or was the issue that the Blades didn't create more chances?
The Premier League is an unforgiving environment. Clearly, there is time to pull the situation round no matter how bleak the table looks just now.
I'm just not sure they have the ability to do it.
Image source, Getty ImagesSheffield United's Oli McBurnie: "That is probably the story of our season. We have been in a lot of games. It is tough to take but I thought the boys showed a lot of quality today. It's unfortunate I think the boys have defended really well for a lot of the game and the right-back [Diogo Dalot] sticks one in the bin from 25-yards. There are definitely things to build on."
On his injury: "We will see how it is on Monday, I will have a scan and see what the diagnosis is."
Scott McTominay was the fifth different Manchester United player to both score and concede a penalty in the same Premier League game, and the first since Bruno Fernandes against Brighton in September 2020.
Manchester United have recorded successive Premier League away wins for the first time since December 2022, while they’ve now won each of their last seven away league games against newly promoted sides.
Sheffield United are only the fourth side in Premier League history to register just one point in their opening nine games to begin a season (D1 L8), after Manchester City in 1995-96, Sheffield Wednesday in 1999-00 and Sheffield United in 2020-21, with all three previous sides suffering relegation.
Sheffield United’s Oliver McBurnie scored his first Premier League goal since December 2020 against Leicester City, with what was his first ever taken penalty in the competition.
Both of Diogo Dalot’s Premier League goals have come away against newly promoted sides, also netting against Nottingham Forest in April last season – while it was Manchester United’s first away winner from outside the box in the competition since Paul Pogba against Fulham in January 2021.
Diogo Dalot's superb second-half goal gave Manchester United a narrow Premier League win at struggling Sheffield United.
Scott McTominay's low and improvised effort into the bottom right corner had put the visitors ahead.
The Scotland midfielder was then penalised for handling James McAtee's cross, as Oli McBurnie levelled for the hosts with a penalty.
However, Dalot's 25-yard effort ensured victory for Erik ten Hag's side.
Prior to kick-off there was a minute of applause for the victims of the tragedies in Israel and Gaza and to mark the death of club legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?
Blades fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here
There is lots of Premier League action on Saturday with eight games set to be played out, and we'll bring you every moment.
Follow all the action and reaction here
Live commentaries:
Manchester City v Brighton - BBC Radio 5 Live
Chelsea v Arsenal - BBC Radio 5 Live
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.
His opponents for this weekend's fixtures are Joelah and Keke, the award-winning presenters of 1Xtra's Throwback Party on BBC Sounds.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2
I know I keep saying it, but I am not convinced by Manchester United or by their goalkeeper Andre Onana.
And boy did they need their late comeback to beat Brentford a couple of weeks ago because otherwise their manager Erik ten Hag would have been under the pump going into the international break.
Marcus Rashford's goal for England on Tuesday was important too - it has come at a good time for him after nine games without scoring for club and country and will give him confidence before the trip to Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United will be awkward and resolute but I think Ten Hag's side will edge it, and give themselves another lift before next weekend's Manchester derby.
Joelah's prediction: 2-1
Keke's prediction: 1-1
Image source, Getty ImagesFulham manager Marco Silva has backed Chris Basham to return to football after requiring two operations to repair the leg he injured during Sheffield United's defeat at Craven Cottage.
Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom said on Thursday the injury was "not career-ending" and Silva said the 35-year-old's conduct since it happened "shows his character as a professional".
"It was really tough to see," said Silva. "You could tell straight away from the reaction of the players that it was something really serious.
"It is really tough when a professional footballer suffers something like that. For sure, he will need people around him to support him and keep him strong.
"The way he has reacted on social media shows his character as a professional and is a really good sign that we could see him on the pitch as soon as we can."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Premier League has confirmed that the television dates for this season's festive fixtures will be released early next week.
The TV selections for the whole of December were due to be released on Friday, but only the first weekend of matches, including Manchester City versus Tottenham in the Sunday 16:30 slot, have been confirmed.
The Premier League has been toying with the idea of moving a match – understood to be Wolves' home game against Chelsea - from Saturday, 23 December to Christmas Eve.
It would be the first time a game has been played on 24 December since 1995, when Leeds United beat Manchester United.
In the latest episode of Blades Heaven, Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom prepares for his side to host Manchester United in the Premier League.
He addresses injuries that have affected the squad, before looking at what a win against United on Saturday would mean.
