Pick of the stats: Stoke City v Sheffield United

[BBC] This will be the 114th meeting in all competitions between Stoke City and Sheffield United when the sides meet on Saturday (12:30 BST). The Blades are hoping to recover from exiting the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two Fleetwood on Wednesday, while Stoke have taken 10 points from a possible 12 in the Championship. Stoke have lost each of their past five league meetings with Sheffield United since a 3-1 win in October 2022 under Alex Neil. Sheffield United have won away to Stoke in both of the past two Championship seasons, and could win three successive away league games against the Potters for just the second time, after April 1960. Stoke have won three of their past four Championship games (D1), as many as their previous 23 beforehand (W3 D6 L14). Sheffield United are unbeaten in five away league games (W3 D2), the longest ongoing run of all current Championship clubs. Only Rio Cardines (5) has more Championship goal involvements this season among defenders than Stoke's Eric Bocat (4 - 2 goals, 2 assists).