By Jake Osgathorpe

January 20, 2024

Can Sheffield United and Bournemouth cause upsets on Sunday? According to expected goals (xG) data, they have a good chance.

Sheffield United will be hosting a West Ham side that is plagued with injuries and absences. Edson Alvarez, Pablo Fornals, Nayef Aguerd, Said Benrahma, Michail Antonio, Mohamed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta, and Jarrod Bowen will all be missing from the West Ham lineup. This presents Sheffield United with a golden opportunity to secure a win. Despite recent losses, the Blades have shown promising performances, especially in their home games. They narrowly lost to Liverpool, beat Brentford, and created 3.6 xG in an undeserved defeat to Luton. The score prediction for this match is a 1-0 win for Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth is on a winning streak, having won six out of their last nine league games. They will be facing a Liverpool side that is missing key players, including Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The absence of these creative players leaves Liverpool vulnerable, especially in their away games, where they have been conceding an average of 1.53 xGA per game this season. Bournemouth, with their solid form, will be looking to take advantage and cause an upset. The score prediction for this match is a 2-1 win for Bournemouth.

Both Sheffield United and Bournemouth have favorable circumstances to pull off unexpected wins on Sunday. Will they be able to deliver?