Sheffield United v Everton: Premier League – live!

24 min Andre Gomes, on the right wing nearly the halfway line, curls a delicious first-time pass around the defence to find Calvert-Lewin. It bounces up slightly awkwardly, though, and Calvert-Lewin control with his chest is too heavy.

22 min “This game is a very interesting one,” says Stephen Pilling. “Sheff Utd play very exciting football, and the new Everton manager tries to do the same.”

Yes, it’s noticeable that Branthwaite, in particular, has been trying to play the ball out from the back. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Ancelotti does next season. As one of our readers pointed out last week, he usually takes over teams that are, for want of a better phrase, oven-ready. This Everton team aren’t even microwaveable.

20 min A good move from Everton. Walcott plays a give-and-go with Sigurdsson and drives a low shot from a tight angle that flashes across the face of goal.

18 min A good spell for possession for Everton, who have survived the first onslaught. Richarlison cracks in a good cross that is belted away by Egan.

14 min Another corner to United. Norwood’s big inswinger beats everyone, including the flailing Pickford, and curls just wide of the far post.

13 min A corner to Sheffield United, who have dominated the early part of the game. Norwood swings it in and Keane heads away with authority.

10 min Sheffield United are starting to pin Everton in their half. One way or another, a few of the Everton players will be sore in the morning.

7 min Lots of hustle and bustle from Sheffield United, who appear to have received an appreciable brollocking from Chris Wilder for the lack of aggression in their performance at Leicester.

4 min Digne yelps and falls over after a challenge from McBurnie, who walks away from the scene like Dirty Harry. It was a poor challenge – he missed an aggressive attempted block tackle and followed through into Digne’s ankle. Wayne Rooney used to go into challenges like that. McBurnie should have been booked.

4 min Everton’s formation is actually a 4-2-3-1, with Richarlison on the left and Sigurdsson behind Calvert-Lewin.

3 min Richarlison is down after a block tackle with Berge, who followed through to stand on his right foot. He should be able to run it off.

1 min Peep peep! Sheffield United kick off from right to left on a sunny evening in Sheffield.

“How come there’s no MBM for the Newcastle game?” says Robert Lin. “Is there no interest whatsoever?”

Resources, I guess, and there is more riding on this game. But I have it on the background and will mention any goals or mind-altering runs from Allan Saint-Maximin.

“Every mention of the phrase ‘I like the cut of your/his jib’ automatically makes me think of this,” says Matt Burtz. “Also, like you, I was being a bit facetious. I would keep Holgate, Keane, Coleman, Mina and Kean. I don’t think Davies is quite good enough, and even though I think Sigurdsson has all the tools, he may be past his prime, and the effort just isn’t there. I don’t hate Walcott either, but that’s a low bar.”

Part of the problem is that the squad has too many happy losers: good players, but also good-time Charlies. They would probably thrive in a tougher dressing-room, and discover qualities they didn’t know they had, but you need to replace some of them for that change to happen.

There will be a lot of attention on the Sheffield United keeper Dean Henderson, especially after David de Gea’s shocker last night. He’s also up against Jordan Pickford, whose England shirt he’d quite like to nick.

“Hello Rob!” says Stephen Carr. “Sigurdsson’s selection is an interesting one. Interesting because you’d assume Ancelotti has seen him play.”

Wasn’t he the Premier League’s assist king a couple of years ago? Strange player, who regularly flits between the sublime and the inconspicuous.

“I liked the cut of Branthwaite’s jib last week against Villa,” says J. R. in Illinois. “I’ma keep an eye on him.”

Yes, he makes his full Premier League debut tonight, having impressed allcomers when he came on as an early sub against Villa.

“Hi Rob,” says Matt Burtz. “Everton fan here. I don’t disagree that they need eight new players, I just want to see if we agree on the ones to keep. I say it’s Digne, Richarlison, and Calvert-Lewin. I would also keep Pickford because I don’t think he’s *quite* as erratic as he’s made out to be, and I’m not sure who else they can get for the position. Gomes hasn’t really recovered fully from his injury, and Gordon shows promise. The rest can probably go in the bin.”

I wasn’t being totally serious, but they do need few. I agree with all the players you suggested. I’d certainly keep Coleman, Holgate, Keane and Davies at the club.

Sheffield United (3-5-2) Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Osborn, Stevens; McBurnie, McGoldrick.
Substitutes: Moore, Jagielka, K Freeman, Robinson, Fleck, Lundstram, Clarke, Sharp, Zivkovic.

Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Sidibe, Keane, Branthwaite, Digne; Davies, Andre Gomes; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Joao Virginia, Baines, Coleman, Iwobi, Baningime, Bernard, Gordon, Simms.

Referee Stuart Attwell.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Sheffield United v Everton from Bramall Lane. The last week of the season is no time for stylish intros or purple prose, so let’s proceed straight to the bit where we tell you what each team needs.

Sheffield United need to win their last two games, realistically, to have any chance of playing European football next season. They will qualify for the Europa League if they finish in the top six, or if they finish seventh and Chelsea win the FA Cup. Here’s the league table.

Everton need about eight new players.

United are big favourites tonight. They have beaten Spurs, Wolves and Chelsea in their last three home games, and they all had something to play for. Everton don’t, not really. They can finish no higher than 11th and no lower than 14th.

Kick off 6pm.