The first of two suddenly crucial home games over just four days is a Premier League clash with bottom club Sheffield United, who haven’t taken all three points at Stamford Bridge since a Brian Deane winner in October 1992.

With the Carabao Cup quarter-final visit of Newcastle United to come on Tuesday, Mauricio Pochettino will be looking for home comforts to restore confidence following back-to-back league defeats in the North-West. His side have won three and lost one of the past six games at the Bridge across all competitions.

Now under new management, the Blades have amassed the fewest goals for (12), most against (41) and joint-fewest points (eight) but are better off than at the same stage of their last Premier League campaign in 2020/21, which ended in relegation. Back then both goal statistics were lower and they had only two points to their name.

No Yorkshire team has won at the Bridge in 19 Premier League visits since December 1999, the Londoners emerging victorious from 15 of those clashes. Chelsea have also won 52 and drawn 12 of our past 67 home Premier League games against newly promoted sides such as United, beating Luton Town 3-0 earlier this season.

Team news

Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, 24, whose debut came as a substitute for the injured Robert Sanchez at Everton, looks set to make his first start at Stamford Bridge. Thiago Silva will hope to return to the heart of defence after being rested at Goodison Park. However, Marc Cucurella was injured there and a significant number of others remain sidelined.

If fit, Malo Gusto is a ready replacement for the stricken Reece James and talented Academy right-back Josh Acheampong has been training with the first team. Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku, both yet to make their debut, also have more groundwork under their belts. Manchester City academy graduate Lavia is a defensive midfielder who can carry the ball forward or set up attacks with his passing and could ease the load on Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez.

In pre-season Nkunku was often a secondary striker and could take one of the wide roles rather than centre-forward. The Blues will face a well-drilled and re-energised unit and his elusive, edge-of-the-box chance creation could be valuable.

Pochettino will not want a repeat of home games earlier this season when the Blues dominated, squandered chances and were hit with sucker punches.

He will hope to exploit aerial superiority as his side have won 58.2 per cent of headed challenges to date, the highest in the league.

The Blues will have the edge in passing accuracy with a fourth-best 85.4 per cent of attempts finding their mark; Sheffield United’s 70.3 per cent accuracy is the second worst after Luton.

Opposition scout – Sheffield United

Centre-back Jack Robinson, the Blades’ most consistent performer in a difficult league campaign, will miss out for the first time as he reached five yellows last weekend.

Half a dozen others remain unavailable to Chris Wilder, though the recently returned coach can count on George Baldock again despite the right-back’s injury during the 5-0 defeat by Burnley, and Oli McBurnie and Oliver Norwood return from suspensions.

McBurnie is joint leading scorer with two in the league, the same as Gustavo Hamer and Cameron Archer, and will likely lead the line in the attacking 4-3-3 system Wilder has preferred in his two games so far.

The suddenly resharpened Blades are battlers, playing on the front foot and taking pot-shots from anywhere. Man City loanee James McAtee netted the first winner of Wilder’s current spell at home to Brentford with an impressive effort from the corner of the box.

However, the visitors have faced 116 shots on target this term (more than seven per game) and commit fouls in dangerous areas. Only Nottingham Forest (eight) have conceded more times from set-plays than the Yorkshire club, with seven.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United – the history

Not that there is any malice on Chelsea’s part, but the Londoners have ensured Sheffield United’s relegation on two occasions. The first was at Bramall Lane on the final day of the 1967/68 season.

Even the presence of 1950s Blues hero Johnny Harris in the Blades’ dug-out could not deter the visitors from delivering the killer blow to the Yorkshire side’s seven years among the elite. The hosts took the lead through Mick Hill just before the break, but in the second half Peter Osgood snaffled up and dispatched an errant back-pass to level and the tide turned.

Dave Sexton’s side weathered United’s panicky attacks and took advantage of gaps at the back when Tommy Baldwin headed home Ossie’s cross for the clincher. The Blades were accompanied through the trapdoor by Fulham.

Sheffield United obtained a measure of revenge in April 1975 by virtually confirming Chelsea’s demotion with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in teenager Ray Wilkins’ second-ever game as skipper. Striker Teddy Maybank scored very early for Eddie McCreadie’s youngsters but Keith Eddy equalised late and that was that.

The boot was on the other foot again at the Bridge on 7 May 1994, one week before Chelsea’s long-awaited return to a Wembley FA Cup final. Again, the Blues had little to play for, but striker Mark Stein was a man on a mission to prove his fitness for the showpiece. Once again, the Blades opened the scoring, leading 1-0 and 2-1 until Steino equalised for 2-2 then drove in the last-gasp winner. The Shed End closed that summer, so its last hurrah condemned the shell-shocked Yorkshiremen to the drop. 

‘When you play Russian roulette,’ observed manager Dave Bassett of his club’s previous near-misses, ‘sometimes you get the bullet.’

Recently reappointed head coach Chris Wilder, then famous for his overlapping centre-backs, was actually in charge the last time this fixture was played in November 2020.

David McGoldrick drew first blood for Sheffield United but Chelsea swiftly reversed the situation through Tammy Abraham then Ben Chilwell. Hakim Ziyech’s creativity and late contributions from Thiago Silva and Timo Werner made it a comfortable 4-1 victory for the Londoners.

Chelsea Heritage event

The Chelsea Heritage Partnership is holding another ‘Those Were The Days’ celebration of club nostalgia between 1pm and 2.45pm on Saturday.

This free event is open to all match ticket holders and can be found in the Tea Bar, near the ticket office at Stamford Bridge.

With Sheffield United the visitors, video presentations and displays will reflect connections with the Blades including our first goalie, the larger-than-life Willie Foulke, and matches as far back as the famous Khaki FA Cup final of 1915. Marking the 75th anniversary of football’s first 16-page programme, there's also a presentation about Chelsea’s game-changing matchday publications.

Present your case to fan advisors

At the same venue and time members of the Fan Advisory Board, which presents supporter-focused views to the club on key issues, will be available for a chat and ready to hear your views and suggestions.

Mental health drop-in

Christmas can be a stressful as well as joyous time of year. Before Saturday’s game the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust's Over The Line, a mental health hub backed by Chelsea FC and the Chelsea Foundation, will be in operation in the foyer of the Copthorne Hotel at Stamford Bridge.

Trained, qualified counsellors from Hammersmith and Fulham/Ealing and Hounslow Mind will offer confidential advice and support on mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, stress, sleeplessness, addiction and OCD. All are welcome.