Manager will miss trip to Bramall Lane as he recovers from back surgery
Sheffield United vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 2.00pm, Sunday 27th August 2023
Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Referee: Jarred Gillett Assistants: S Bennett, D Cann Fourth Official: D Coote VAR: S Hooper
Odds: Sheffield United 14/1, Draw 6/1, Man City 1/6
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Sheffield United
Manager: Paul Heckingbottom
Squad (from): Davis, Foderingham, Amissah, Baldock, Trusy, Basham, Egan, Ahmedhovic, Robinson, Bogle, Larouci, Seriki, Norwood, Osborn, Slimane, Brooks, Costa, Hamer, Davies, McBurnie, Traore, Osula, Marsh Jebbison, Hackford
Injured: Fleck, Brewster, Coulibaly, Norrington-Davies, Bogle,
Doubtful: Slimane, Jebbison, McBurnie, Baldock, Lowe
Suspended: None
Form guide: LL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol. Akanji, Lewis, Phillips, Kovacic, Grealish, Rodri, Silva, Gomez, Silva, Foden, Bobb, Palmer, McAtee, Haaland, Doku, Alvarez
Injured: Stones, De Bruyne
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WDW
Pep Guardiola will be absent from the dug-out at Bramall Lane on Sunday, having undergone routine surgery on a back issue earlier in the week.
However, assistant manager Juanma Lillo has said that the boss will be fully involved in the pre-match preparations as he reovers at home.
“Of course! Pep is always there! he said at Friday's press conference.
“The contact is continuous. Telephone, video call, everything.
“He is watching Sheffield United right now. What’s important is his health. That's what matters.
"That doesn't keep him from being who he is. He’s fully focused on the team and the match.
“What he is transmitting to all of us is that the surgery has been successful. His recovery has to take necessary time. He feels fine. I’m happy to see him recover correctly.
“Pep prefers to speak face to face to the players so that would be me dealing with it (in terms of a pre match message). The form and content is his work. We’re not doing a video conference because he doesn't want that.
“He wants face to face (contact) and he’s in the messages that are going to be relayed.”
City won their last game against at Bramall Lane 1-0, with a goals from Kyle Walker. Overall City have won 54 of the 126 games played against the Blades, with 34 draws and 38 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Kovacic, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez, Haaland
Score prediction: Sheffield United 0 City 2