Sheffield United 0-1 Chelsea – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Thiago Silva gives Blues early lead as they look to build momentum in battle for European places

This has been a very comfortable opening 15 minutes for Chelsea.

Sheffield United just haven’t got to grips with this one yet and as a result, the visitors have been able to get the ball down and keep it.

McBurnie looked to bring the hosts forward on a rare foray, but his attempted pass – a simple one – was very poor.

Chelsea strike first – and it’s Thiago Silva!

Gallagher delivered an inviting corner from the right and Silva was allowed to stride into space and apply a finish into the far corner.

It wasn’t the cleanest contact but the direction of the volley was enough to leave Grbic rooted to the spot.

From the hosts’ perspective, it’s a cheap one to concede this early.

The winger looked to do it all himself after racing into the box but his cutback took a deflection, forcing Grbic to parry out.

CHANCE! There’s the game’s first effort.

Palmer picked up the ball inside the D but after being shut out instead opted to roll a pass across to Gallagher.

The midfielder jinked back inside but then blazed over the top.

Chelsea have kept the ball very nicely inside the hosts’ half as they look to probe for weaknesses. It’s been a pretty slow pace so far.

A steady start from both sides. Jackson looked to get onto the end of a long ball upfield but Ahmedhodzic did very well to win a free-kick.

There was certainly a tangle of arms from both players.

Here come the teams. Kick-off is moments away!

Is there time for a very late push for the Golden Boot for Cole Palmer?

His sensational hat-trick against Manchester United took him to 21 goals for the season and 16 in the Premier League.

Just Erling Haaland, Mo Salah and Ollie Watkins have netted more in the top-flight than Palmer.

Anyone fancy him to score again today?

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Malo Gusto has been rested today.

The full back recently suffered from a bout of illness.

‘Malo Gusto has to rest,’ Pochettino said pre-match. ‘He was ill before playing two games, so he has to rest.

‘For us, even if we miss important players, we need to accept we cannot take a risk in this way.’

Here’s a question for you. Is Cole Palmer the signing of the season?

That’s exactly what Joe Cole claimed, albeit after he had become lost in the celebrations after Chelsea’s pulsating midweek victory.

Palmer arrived from Manchester City for just over £40million and has been their best player during an up-and-down campaign.

‘He’s been remarkable. I would say, signing of the season,’ Cole said.

‘He’s taken this team by the scruff of the neck, and gone, “you’re my team. I’m the one that’s going to drag this team through”.

‘Absolutely build a team around him. He has the personality for it.’

Here’s Mail Sport’s LUKE POWER with a superb piece on the forward everyone can’t help but talk about this season…

If Cole Palmer isn’t already a household name, the onus is on the household to get with the times. We’re looking at a man who could play a defining role in the next decade of English football and beyond.

Not many 21-year-old’s brush aside Manchester United, but Palmer does what he likes. His hat-trick for Chelsea against the Red Devils on Thursday night once again saw him stray into the headlines.

Who is this seemingly shy, matter-of-fact chap, and what are his origins? Players like this don’t just spawn out of the ether.

He has a fascinating story, from his family’s extraordinary journey from the Caribbean to English shores, to being a boyhood Man United fan and then playing for Manchester City.

To read the full piece, click the link below!

Here’s a big boost for Sheffield United this evening.

Cameron Archer is back in their matchday squad for the first time since February. He’ll start this one among the substitutes.

Oli McBurnie and Ben Osborn have returned to the starting line-up.

Vini Souza and James McAtee have dropped to the bench.

Chelsea have made three changes from the side that started against Manchester United in midweek.

Thiago Silva has been recalled at centre back, his first start since February, with Trevoh Chalobah also in the XI.

To me, it looks Mauricio Pochettino has gone with a back four.

Malo Gusto has missed out on the squad entirely.

Noni Madueke has also been handed a start and will be part of a triumvirate featuring Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

Not a bad front three, eh?

Chelsea have arrived at Bramall Lane!

I’m expecting Cole Palmer to step up for them again today. How good was he in midweek? He absolutely stole the show.

This is a big, big evening in the wider context of their season.

Somehow, against all the odds, they’re just about in a European race.

Starting XI: Petrovic, Disasi, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Gallagher, Madueke, Jackson

Substitutes: Badiashile, Sterling, Mudryk, Bettinelli, Chukwuemeka, Casadei, Deivid Washington, Gilchrist, Sharman-Lowe

Starting XI: Grbic, Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Bogle, Hamer, Arblaster, Osborn, Trusty, McBurnie, Brereton Diaz

Substitutes: Archer, Norwood, Foderingham, Vinicius Souza, Ben Slimane, Larouci, McAtee, Osula, Brooks

Sheffield United may have shipped 45 goals in their last 15 home league games, but Chris Wilder has taken heart from recent displays.

Recent draws with Bournemouth and Fulham steadied the ship somewhat and they delivered a battling performance against Liverpool.

In the end, the basement club were only undone by Alexis Mac Allister’s thunderbolt and a late hammer blow from Cody Gakpo

‘We’re hopeful that we can take a lot from these last three games, especially our last home performance, and get something from the (Chelsea) game,’ Wilder told reporters earlier this week.

‘And if we do, then we’re going to have to do a lot of things right.’

Mauricio Pochettino sported his heart on his sleeve after Chelsea fought back against all the odds to beat Manchester United.

Cole Palmer’s last-gasp winning goal sparked wild scenes at Stamford Bridge and Pochettino was whipped around by the sheer emotion.

He is now hoping to build a better, stronger rapport with supporters.

‘I arrived to Chelsea in a different project than in the previous 10 years,” Pochettino said post-match.

‘I played with my reputation to come here, in a project to build a team with young players, talented players.

‘We knew it was a massive challenge to build a team, win games and to be competitive, to take the risk with the fans.

‘I said from the beginning, I want to build a genuine relationship.

‘Not kissing the badge or doing stupid things on the touchline to win the (favour) of the fans.

‘I want to prove the team the tools to win games, to make them believe in ourselves and to build a relationship.

‘I’m not here to be a populist and a hypocrite and say “I love the fans”, because I know it’s about time to build this relationship.’

Well, the picture is not a pretty one for Sheffield United.

They’re very much on the cusp of relegation and sit 10 points adrift of safety with just eight games remaining.

They’ve collected just 15 points this season and conceded a staggering 80 goals under Paul Heckingbottom and Chris Wilder.

As for Chelsea, they can move one point behind eighth-placed Newcastle with a victory today after their mid-week turnaround.

We’ll bring you the team news at 4.30pm, with kick-off at 5.30pm.

I *think* I’ve just about recovered from the last time Chelsea were in action. I won’t forget that 4-3 win against Man United in a hurry!

In fairness, United very much snatched defeat from the jaws of victory but Mauricio Pochettino and his players still deserved serious credit.

They were both parts incisive and chaotic and today, they may need a more regimented performance to prevent an upset in Yorkshire.

Sheffield United remain rock bottom and, until a recent fight back, looked to be sinking back into the Championship without a trace.

But they could pose a real threat for the Blues today, even if that 10-point gap to safety is looking more and more like a yawning chasm.

Stay tuned right here for all the team news and updates!