Premier League: SHU vs CHE - Must-win for The Blues as Champions League qualification intensifies

Sheffield United welcome Chelsea to the Bramall Lane at 17:30. Photo of Sheffield United: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images. Photo of Chelsea: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea face Sheffield United in a must-win encounter at Bramall Lane on Saturday as the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification hots up.


Chelsea are looking to extend their winning run to three games in the Premier League when they travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United this weekend.

They are coming on the back of consecutive wins over Watford and Crystal Palace – a run of form that helped them overtake Leicester City in the last matchday.

Frank Lampard's side can’t afford to be complacent at all, especially with Leicester City and in-form Manchester United breathing down their necks.

As for Sheffield United, they are still in the running for a potential place in the UEFA Europa League next season. They are currently seventh in the league table with 51 points – six behind fifth-placed Manchester United and one behind Wolverhampton Wanderers in sixth.

Chris Wilder’s men have been in excellent form, especially following the return of key defender Jack O’Connell. And he is unlikely to make any changes to the three-man backline consisting of Chris Basham, John Egan and O’Connell himself.

Frank Lampard has to make key decision this weekend as he misses a few players due to injury. Billy Gilmour, in particular, has been ruled out for four months while N’Golo Kante is still out injured. That should pave the way for Jorginho to be recalled into the side.