Sheffield United vs Burnley Prediction: Promotion rivals meet in Yorkshire

Top takes on third on Boxing Day at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United host Burnley in a key match in the promotion race to the Premier League. The Blades are three points clear at the top of the table, which is even more impressive when you consider the fact they started on -2 points in August. 

Chris Wilder has done a superb job so far, and his next test comes on Boxing Day at 15:00 (Sky Sports+), as he takes on Scott Parker in the opposite dugout. Below you can find my Sheffield United vs Burnley prediction featuring team news and betting tips. 

Team News

Sheffield United have a few key absentees, especially in midfield where Vinicius Souza has been ruled out until January. Oliver Arblaster is also out, while Tyrese Campbell and Anel Ahmedhodzic are also absent, set to return in early 2025. 

It means after his brace last time out, Kieffer Moore is set to start up top again, supported by Calum O’Hare, Gustavo Hamer and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. Tom Davies and Sydie Peck should line up in midfield with the lack of other options, while the back four picks itself - with Jack Robinson doing well in the absence of Ahmedhodzic. 

For Burnley, James Trafford, CJ Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve make up an incredible defensive trio. They will start again with Conor Roberts at right-back and Bashir Humphreys likely to hold onto the left-back berth ahead of Lucas Pires. 

Jeremy Sarmiento missed the last match with a knock but could return here, while Jordan Beyer, Lyle Foster, Manuel Benson and Mike Tresorall on the road to recovery. That quartet won’t be back for this one, so Josh Brownhill, Josh Laurent and Josh Cullen should start as the midfield trio once again. 

Sheffield United vs Burnley Odds

Sheffield United are priced at 13/10 to win this game, having won nine and drawn one of their 10 home games so far. That gives them an implied win probability of 43%, while Burnley are priced at 2/1 to win their seventh away game. 

A draw can be backed at 2/1, over 2.5 goals is 5/4 and BTTS is 1/1. Over 2.5 goals has come in during only 23% of Sheff Utd and Burnley games, so we might not get a goalfest, but Moore is the favourite to score first at 6/1. 

Under 2.5 goals @ 4/7

When two teams like this meet sometimes you simply have to back the obvious selection. I’ve waxed lyrical about Burnley’s defence all season and they are currently on track to smash the fewest goals conceded record of 30, having only conceded nine in 22 so far. This game marks the halfway point of the season, so they are currently on track to concede around 20 goals in 46 games, which is simply staggering stuff. 

If they manage to achieve that, they will surely secure a top-two finish, but they face some competition in the race for clean sheets. Sheffield United have only conceded 11 times this term, and they’ve won five of their last six games while also keeping a clean sheet. Cooper and Trafford have proven themselves to be the best keepers in the league, and I think we will see a narrow victory either way on Boxing Day.