Manchester City are the only side in the Premier League performing well on a consistent basis at present and their form has been rewarded as they come into this weekend top of the table. Pep Guardiola's side ran West Brom ragged, in midweek, with a rampant 5-0 victory sending City to the summit.
The home side come into this match unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions and on an 11-game winning run whilst keeping a clean sheet in eight of those victories. With the worst attack in the division travelling to take on the league's best defence you would expect City to cruise to a fifth successive home win accompanied by a clean sheet.
However, Sheffield United will arrive at the Etihad Stadium with renewed verve and vigour after their 2-1 win away to Manchester United on Wednesday night. The Blades are still odds-on to finish rock bottom of the table but they showed a sharp-edged side to their character during the week to move onto eight points for the season, 10 from safety.
Team News
Man City have been without a striker for most of the season and talisman Sergio Aguero remains in self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus. Star player Kevin De Bruyne continues to recover from a hamstring issue which could see him miss at least another threeks of action.
Defender Nathan Ake has struggled with injury since his move to City but Kyle Walker did recover from a hip problem to make the bench in midweek and could return to the starting line-up to take on his boyhood club.
Chris Wilder has been without some influential players for large parts of this season and the manager may be missing Enda Stevens, Jack Robinson, Ben Osborn and Oli McBurnie who have all been absent in recent weeks due to injury.
Phil Jagielka rolled back the years with an immense display at Old Trafford but at 38 years old you would think two absorbing matches in the space of four days will be too much for the veteran. John Egan is due back from suspension meaning he could slot back in to the centre of defence.
Predicted line-ups
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, Silva; Mahrez, Sterling, Foden.
Sheffield United (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Egan, Ampadu, Basham; Baldock, Norwood, Fleck, Lundstram, Lowe; McGoldrick, Burke.
Ones to Watch
Joao Cancelo has been a revelation for City this season and the versatiltiy of the Portuguese international has made him one of the first names on the teamsheet in recent weeks. He can operate in either full-back position as well as the right wing. Cancelo adopts clever positions in between the oppositions midfield and defence to show his creative ability and he helped himself to a goal and assist against West Brom in midweek.
As for Sheffield United, Ethan Ampadu's arrival on loan from Chelsea has perhaps been the best thing to happen to the club this season. The Welshman was rock solid in midweek with yet another brilliant display which seen him make three crucial blocks, two interceptions and six clearances as he refused to settle for anything less than three points at Old Trafford.
Previous Meeting
Boyhood Blades fan Kyle Walker scored the only goal of the game when these sides met back on Halloween Day. The Sheffield-born right-back came back to haunt his former side with a fearsome drive from 30 yards in the first half which was enough to seal all three points.
City have won all three meetings since United's promotion last season and have managed to keep a clean sheet in each of those head-to-heads.
How to Watch
This game will be live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK and Ireland with kick-off at 3pm on Saturday. In Austrailia the game will be shown on Optus Sport and on NBC across the United States.