Sheffield United can attack Derby from the flanks and collect second balls near the area. Derby have already used their replacement back line together, and Morris gives them a direct way out. Aston Villa can press and cross into the box, while Manchester City can create through both wide combinations and a central finisher. These games test whether the first wave of pressure can be repeated and finished.
Burrows and Chong give Sheffield wide entries, with Arblaster looking for loose balls behind them. Derby's Ward, Sanderson, Nyambe and Hedges played the full Stoke match ahead of Vickers, and Morris won aerial balls to start the next attack. Travis is newly unavailable after playing against Stoke, but most of the defensive absences were already present when that group limited Stoke's chances. Sheffield's recent attack has had good moments without regularly building a large final margin. That's why I'm siding with Derby.
City can stretch Villa's fullback areas through Doku and Foden, then find Haaland inside or Cherki on the next pass. Villa have a Gomes-to-Jackson crossing route and Kamara's screen, but their recent big scoring performances included unusually open deliveries and opponent mistakes. Villa's established fullbacks are unavailable and Manzambi is awaiting a fitness test; Haaland is reported fully available after sitting out City's midweek match. City's extra routes and fresher key attacking roles give them the stronger finishing sequence. That's why I'm siding with Manchester City.
