Preston North End vs Sheffield United: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Ladbrokes' detailed preview for Preston North End vs Sheffield United in the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 BST match.

• Fixture: Preston North End vs Sheffield United
• Date: Friday, 24 October 2025
• Kick-off: 20:00 BST
• Venue: Deepdale

Preston North End might fancy their chances at home, especially after a solid win against Charlton Athletic. They've been a bit shaky lately, losing to Birmingham and West Brom, but their draw against Hull shows they can hold their own.

The Blades have been up and down, but come into this match with confidence after beating Blackburn and Watford. It'll be a tight contest, with both teams looking to exploit any weaknesses.

Sheffield United's recent wins suggest they've got the firepower to cause problems for Preston. However, Preston's home form could be the deciding factor here. Expect a game where both teams will have their moments, but Preston's resilience at Deepdale might just see them through.

Preston North End have had a mixed bag recently, with two losses, a win, and two draws in their last five games. Their home form has been decent, with a win against Charlton and a draw against Bristol City. This could give them a boost against Sheffield United.

However, the losses to Birmingham and West Brom show they need to tighten up at the back. The absence of Will Keane due to a calf injury might affect their attacking options, but players like Michael Smith and Daniel Jebbison have shown they can step up. If Preston can keep it tight defensively and make the most of their chances, they could come out on top.

• Loss: 0-1 vs Birmingham City (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs West Bromwich Albion (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Hull City (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Bristol City (H)

Sheffield United have been inconsistent lately, with three wins and two losses in their last five games. Their victories against Blackburn and Watford show they can be a force to be reckoned with. However, the losses to Hull and Southampton indicate they can be vulnerable at times.

The absence of Gustavo Hamer is a blow, but their recent form suggests they still have enough quality to challenge Preston. If they can maintain their attacking threat and shore up their defence, they could cause an upset.

• Win: 3-1 vs Blackburn Rovers (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Watford (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Hull City (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Southampton (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Oxford United (A)

Sheffield United have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning four out of the last five games against Preston North End. The most recent encounter saw Sheffield United win 1-0 away from home. However, Preston managed a draw against Sheffield United in January 2022, which could give them some hope going into this match.

• Sheffield United 1-0 Preston North End (08 Mar 2025)
• Preston North End 0-2 Sheffield United (09 Aug 2024)
• Sheffield United 4-1 Preston North End (29 Apr 2023)
• Preston North End 0-2 Sheffield United (17 Sep 2022)
• Preston North End 2-2 Sheffield United (18 Jan 2022)

• Will Keane (Calf) - Doubt

• Robbie Brady (Calf) - Doubt

• Jordan Thompson (Ankle) - Doubt

• Josh Seary (Knee) - Doubt

• Pol Valentin (Muscle) - Doubt

• Bradley Potts (Muscle) - Doubt

• Tahith Chong (Menbiscus) - Out

• Ollie Arblaster (Cruciate Ligament) - Out

• Tom Davies (Calf) - Out

• Gustavo Hamer (Knee) - Out

• Ben Godfrey (Knee) - Out

• Jamie Shackleton (Foot) - Doubt

Predicted lineup: Iversen (GK), Storey (DF), Gibson (DF), Hughes (DF), Whiteman (MF), Offiah (MF), Armstrong (MF), McCann (MF), Vukcevic (MF), Jebbison (AT), Smith (AT)

With a solid backline and a midfield that can control the game, Preston will look to dominate possession and create chances through Whiteman and Armstrong. The absence of Will Keane means Smith and Jebbison will need to be clinical in front of goal.

Predicted lineup: Cooper (GK), Tanganga (DF), McGuinness (DF), Mee (DF), Ogbene (MF), Soumaré (MF), Peck (MF), Burrows (MF), Cannon (AT), O'Hare (AT), Ings (AT)

Sheffield United's lineup suggests they'll rely on their attacking trio of Cannon, Ings, and O'Hare to break down Preston's defence. The midfield, led by Soumaré and Peck, will need to be disciplined to counter Preston's possession-based approach.

• Smith vs Tanganga: This will be a crucial battle between Preston's striker and Sheffield United's solid defender.

• Armstrong vs Soumaré: Expect a midfield tussle as Armstrong tries to control the game against Soumaré's tenacity.

• Whiteman (Preston North End): Whiteman's ability to dictate the tempo from midfield could be key for Preston.

• Ings (Sheffield United): Ings' experience and goal-scoring prowess make him a constant threat for Sheffield United.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.