Sheffield United face a tough test in reigning league champions Manchester City

Sheffield United travel to the Etihad Stadium in a very tough test for the Blades in their first campaign in the Premier League.

Sheffield United currently sit eighth in the Premier League after a very good opening half of the season that leaves the Blades within touching distance of the top six.

On Boxing Day, the Blades drew 1-1 with Watford at Bramall Lane, with Oliver Norwood’s goal cancelling out Gerard Deulofeu’s opener for the Hornets.

Manchester City, meanwhile, collapsed to a calamitous defeat against Wolves.

After Ederson’s sending off in the 13th minute, things started to look bright for City after two goals from Raheem Sterling.

Wolves, however, came back thanks to Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez’s leveller. Matt Doherty put the nail in the coffin to secure all three points for Wolves.

Team news

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson is suspended after being sent off in the defeat at Wolves, with Claudio Bravo set to deputise.

Sergio Aguero is expected to start after being taken off at Molineux due to Ederson’s dismissal, but David Silva, Gabriel Jesus and John Stones will be assessed. Leroy Sane is out with an injury.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is likely to rotate his squad, with Simon Moore doubtful due to a groin injury.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he is not thinking about the possibility of City winning a third-consecutive Premier League title.

“The gap has been big for a long time,” he said. “It is not realistic to think about the title race.

“I have been asked the question for a long time and it is the same answer.”

“Eighty minutes 10 against 11 is so tough, so demanding. We could not defend the result.

“We have to think of the next game and about winning our games. It’s unrealistic to think about that [catching Liverpool]. In 48 hours we have another game.

“We have to be mentally strong because in less than two days we have another game.”

The Blades boss Chris Wilder believes Sheffield United’s record against the top clubs this season offers his team encouragement as they prepare to face reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.

‘I don’t think it’s a fluke the position we’re in and the points we have,’ said the Blades boss.

‘Our mindset has always been; we will respect you but we are going to have a go and we are going to test you and try to push you back, and accept you will try to do the same to us.

‘We’ve gone toe-to-toe with everyone in the division so far, and I’m proud of that, and we will try to do the same on Sunday when we can. We did it against Liverpool here (at Bramall Lane).

‘There’s not many people that will give us a chance of getting a result, except for the people within our dressing room. But we have to believe we can get something from the game and we will be doing our best to do that. However, we really understand what we’re up against.

‘We will have to have a lot of things go in our favour and play at the top of our game, but it won’t be the biggest result in the history of football if we go over there and manage to get a result of some sort.’

Head-to-head

Sheffield United have never beaten Manchester City in the Premier League (D3, L3).

The Blades did, however, beat City in their most recent meeting, an FA Cup fourth-round tie in 2008.

United have failed to score in their last seven away league visits to Manchester City, with five of the last six finishing goaless – they lost the other 6-0.