Stoke City vs Sheffield United prediction, H2H and probable lineups - December 29, 2025
One of the matches of the 24th round of the English Championship will take place on Monday at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, where Stoke City will host Sheffield United. Let's take a look at a bet on the outcome with a strong chance of success.
Match preview
The Potters are going through a tough spell - over the last nine matchdays, the team has managed just two wins. Their attacking line has notably stalled: the club failed to score in four of their last five games. However, Stoke remain one of the most reliable defensive units in the league - only 21 goals conceded, and their clash with Preston marked their eighth clean sheet of the season. The side is currently holding onto a top-ten spot and hopes that their solid back line can help them reverse their slump and rejoin the playoff race.
An important factor will be the team's reaction after the draw with Preston - it helped to halt a losing streak but did little to improve their position. Defensive injuries on the flanks complicate the squad selection, but their home record - five wins in their last nine home fixtures - speaks in favor of the hosts. And with Stoke having not beaten Sheffield United since 2022, there will be no shortage of motivation.
The Blades, after a surge of four straight victories, have slipped back into chaos. In their last four outings, they've suffered two defeats and drawn once, with the match against Wrexham delivering a psychological blow: leading 3-1, they conceded four unanswered goals and lost 3-5. Defensive woes are compounded by poor away form - four defeats in their last six road matches tells its own story.
Even so, Sheffield's 4-0 win over Stoke in the first round, and their successful visit in April, when they triumphed 2-0, are still fresh in the memory. However, the squad is weakened, the attack is inconsistent, and the defense is crumbling under pressure - all of which pose serious risks for the visitors in this fixture. Patrick Bamford remains the main threat up front, but carrying the team single-handedly against Stoke’s organized defense will be a tall order.
Probable lineups
- Stoke City: Johansson, Laval, Phillips, Wilmot, Gibson, Seko, Pearson, Manhoef, Bae, Thomas, Mubama
- Sheffield United: Cooper, Seriki, Tangas, Bindon, McCallum, Riedewald, Soumaré, Brooks, O’Hare, Hamer, Bamford
Match facts and head-to-head
- Sheffield United have beaten Stoke in their last four head-to-head meetings.
- Stoke City have conceded the fewest goals in the league—21 in 23 rounds.
- Sheffield United have lost four of their last six away matches.
Prediction
Despite their poor form, Stoke remain a solid side, particularly at home. They concede very few, and Sheffield regularly struggle defensively on the road. I’m backing the hosts to break their head-to-head losing streak and claim a narrow win to close out the calendar year.
