Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points in Matchweek 37.
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Sheffield United’s formula for success at Bramall Lane is to dominate the flanks and they will aim to do so again when Everton visit on Monday.
In their last three home matches, the Blades have beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea by an aggregate score of 7-1. Each time they caused mayhem out wide.
Manufacturing overlaps
Chris Wilder’s men are experts at stretching the play to their wing-backs and then creating 2v1 overloads, with centre-backs or midfielders drifting into advanced wide areas.
Between them, wing-backs Enda Stevens and George Baldock have created 54 chances, including seven assists.
The wide centre-backs Jack O’Connell and Chris Basham have also made a combined 26 key passes, many of those being crosses whipped into the box.
Midfielders Oliver Norwood, John Fleck and John Lundstram supply a stream of deliveries, too.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the only teams to have produced more accurate crosses from open play.
Most crosses in 2019/20
| Most open-play crosses | Most succ. open-play crosses | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Man City | 674 | Chelsea | 139 |
| Liverpool | 652 | Man City | 129 |
| Chelsea | 602 | Sheff Utd | 121 |
| Sheff Utd | 600 | Wolves | 115 |
All three of Sheff Utd's goals at home to Spurs came because of dynamic movement and clever interplay down the flanks.
Baldock and Basham teamed up to lay on the opening goal for Sander Berge, before Stevens and Ben Osborn linked up to provide the second for Lys Mousset.
Late on it was a neat Baldock-Berge combination that allowed Oliver McBurnie to finish at the near post.
Sheff Utd's goals against Spurs
Two of Sheff Utd's goals in their 3-0 success over Chelsea in their last home match were created in a very similar manner.
So if Everton’s wingers do not track back and help their full-backs, or if the central midfielders are not quick enough to shift across and lend a hand, the Toffees could suffer a similar fate.
It must be a priority to stop the Blades from getting into these areas of the pitch with a spare man.
Bouncing back
Sheff Utd were surprisingly flat in their 2-0 midweek loss at Leicester City, so Wilder may rotate.
And, buoyed by their notable home wins, they will feel confident they can assert their own style on Carlo Ancelotti's team right from the start.
The Blades’ set-pieces may also be an avenue of success. John Egan has recently scored from dead-ball situations against Burnley and Wolves, while Everton have conceded twice from wide free-kicks in successive matches.
They will be nervous when defending corners and free-kicks.
Opportunity certainly knocks for the promoted team, who would love to take their quest for European qualification to the final day of a memorable season.
