Birmingham have lost just one of their last six trips to Bramall Lane (W2, D3)
Sheffield United lost 22 Championship games last season, the second-highest tally in the division
Recommended bet: Birmingham to win @ 17/10 with LiveScore Bet
A new Championship season begins this weekend and the first Saturday evening offering will see Birmingham make the trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United.
The Blues could not achieve their Premier League ambitions last season, finishing 10th after romping to League One glory the season before, but Chris Davies' side look set to build on that showing this term.
Both sides have a Carabao Cup win behind them from last weekend and will fancy establishing some early-season momentum via this Steel City clash.
The latest Sheffield United vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
The hosts are sweating on the fitness of Tahith Chong and Femi Seriki, who both picked up knocks in the Carabao Cup win over Mansfield.
Summer signings Matt Doherty and Romelle Donovan could be handed starts, while Kalvin Phillips has been re-signed from Manchester City on a season-long loan deal but must prove his fitness.
Blues summer signing Luis Vazquez could be handed a start, though he faces competition from in-form August Priske and Jay Stansfield up top.
Kanya Fujimoto missed the Carabao Cup clash with Swansea and will have to be assessed late.
The stats
Sheffield United lost 22 Championship games last season, the second-highest tally in the division.
Birmingham City have lost just one of their last six trips to Bramall Lane (W2, D3).
Japhet Tanganga picked up nine yellow cards for Sheffield United last season.
Sheffield United (304) and Birmingham (265) were second and fourth respectively in terms of corners won last season.
August Priske has scored four goals in pre-season and the Carabao Cup for Birmingham.
Prediction
Sheffield United lost 22 Championship games last season, with only their beleaguered city rivals Sheffield Wednesday suffering more second-tier reverses.
Chris Wilder's squad overhaul this summer has not perhaps gone smoothly. Kalvin Phillips is back on a season-long loan from Manchester City and will hope for better after making just three appearances for the club having suffered a knee injury when he joined in a February loan.
Matt Doherty brings experience but it remains to be seen if the Blades are any sharper than last season.
Birmingham have added quality in the likes of Kristoffer Lund and Luis Vazquez and Davies has a big squad at his disposal with the potential to fight for the play-offs.
They were 1-0 winners at Swansea City in the Carabao Cup last weekend and can land successive away victories by winning at Bramall Lane, where the Midlands side have lost just one of their last six visits.
Score prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Birmingham
