U18s Preview: Sheffield United v Palace

Academy

2 Oct 2025

Crystal Palace Under-18s travel to South Yorkshire on Saturday (4th October), aiming to return to winning ways as they face Sheffield United in the Premier League Cup (KO: 11:00 BST) – Get the full lowdown on the tie below!

This game will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday morning (11:00 BST) - click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!

Eagle-Eyed Review

Crystal Palace U18s take a break from league action this week as attention turns to the Premier League Cup – and with Group D wide open, there's everything to play for.

All four teams – Palace, Chelsea, Manchester City and Sheffield United – sit level on one point apiece, making the clash with the Blades a potential group-shaper.

Javier Alonso’s side were dealt their second league defeat of the season in a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa last Saturday – a rare blip in an otherwise electric run of form. Prior to that, the young Eagles had scored 26 goals across six games, including emphatic 8-0 wins over Birmingham and Ipswich.

Palace’s last outing in the competition saw an entertaining six-goal thriller with Manchester City. In the ultimate game of two halves, Palace led 3-0 at the break, only for the Citizens to seal a stunning second-half fightback to see the sides share the points.

Only the top team in each group and the best-placed runner-up progress to the quarter-finals – so every point now matters.

Sheffield United

Sheffield United currently sit 13th in the U18 Professional Development League. The Blades have picked up seven points from their opening six matches, with results swinging between convincing wins and narrow defeats.

After a heavy loss on opening day to Bristol City, they responded well with a 3-1 win over Colchester United – a game lit up by a spectacular volley from Siem Eyob-Abraha, assisted by debutant Cole Hay.

In their first Premier League Cup fixture, Sheffield showed grit and spirit, leading 3-1 on the hour mark before being pegged back by a late hat-trick from Sol Gordon in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

That was followed by a 5-2 loss to Bournemouth, and a six-goal second half in a wild 3-3 draw with QPR – Sheffield’s games certainly aren’t boring!

They returned to winning ways against Millwall, securing a 3-0 result at Calmont Road thanks to second-half goals from Hay, Charlie Bulmer and Eyob-Abraha.

The forward continued his excellent form with a brace against Watford, though it wasn’t enough to avoid a narrow 3-2 defeat. Most recently, they claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Fleetwood Town.

Likely Line-Ups

Betts, Colechin, Barrett-Underwood, Hough, Parr-Pearson, Reid, Hay, Makhalira, Eyob-Abraha, Morrison

Team News

Defensive duo Alfie Hough and Keehan Barrett-Underwood have become the latest youngsters to put pen to paper on first professional contracts at the club.

Both joining United out of Liverpool's academy in recent years, Hough has gone on to become a mainstay at the centre of the defence, captaining the team this season and first appearing at Under 21s level last season.

Barrett-Underwood joined towards the end of last season ahead of beginning his scholarship in the summer, also making an Under 21s debut earlier this month at Vicarage Road against Watford.

Pre-Match Analysis

United have conceded 18 times in eight matches across all competitions so far in the 2025/26 season.

The club have also only managed to keep two clean sheets, which came against Millwall and Fleetwood Town, both in the Premier League U18 Professional Development League.

That said, United have scored a respectable 16 goals.

Key Player - Siem Eyob-Abraha

Siem Eyob-Abraha boasts an impressive 10 goals in eight games this season, while also contributing a number of assists.

The skilful forward joined the United academy as a scholar 12 months ago from Manchester United, where he'd impressed at Under 16s level.

Abraha hit the ground running with United, regularly contributing goals and assists before an injury curtailed his first full campaign.

The Gaffer – Jim O’Brien

Hailing from Dumbarton, Scotland, Jim O’Brien began his career as a central midfielder in Celtic’s youth system. Following several loans that included Dunfermline Athletic and Dundee United, O’Brien signed for Motherwell.

Having impressed enough to earn selection for the PFA Scotland team of the year, O’Brien made the move to Championship outfit Barnsley in 2010, where he turned out 123 times.

The midfielder completed a move to Coventry City ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, before a loan to Scunthorpe United induced a permanent switch to Shrewsbury Town.

His time at the Shrews was short-lived however, and that January he was loaned to Ross County.

O’Brien saw out the final few years of his career with Bradford and Notts County – he was placed in interim charge of the latter when Luke Williams departed for Swansea in early 2024.

He was released by the club after the conclusion of the 23/24 season and appointed Head Coach of United after Matt Thorpe departed the role.

Match Details

Sheffield United Under-18s v Crystal Palace Under-18s

Saturday, 4th October
11:00 BST
U18 Premier League Cup
Sheffield United Football Academy
Watch LIVE on Palace TV+

How to Follow

This game will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday morning (11:00 BST) - click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!

Can’t watch live? Stay up to date with live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page and look out for the full match report on our Academy news section shortly after the final whistle.

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