Preston v Sheffield United: How to watch, TV channel, kick-off time, head-to-head stats and team news

There are two Championship games on Friday night as the new EFL season kicks off and relegated Sheffield United's trip to Preston features two teams with plenty to prove.

How to watch Preston v Sheffield United and TV channel

Preston v Sheffield United will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports+.

Preston v Sheffield United kick-off time, date and venue

This Championship match will be played at Deepdale in Preston, England, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST on Friday, 9th August.

Preston v Sheffield United stats and head-to-head record (H2H)

Preston and Sheffield United first played each other in 1893. The Blades are unbeaten in the teams' last six meetings, winning four and drawing two.

Sheffield United won the most recent fixture between the two sides with a 4-1 drubbing of North End in April 2023.

Preston lost their last five league games last season to finish 10th in the Championship, missing the play-offs by 10 points.

The Blades won only three of their 38 Premier League matches last season, finishing in last place with 16 points after ending the campaign with seven successive losses.

Preston v Sheffield United head-to-head record (H2H)

Preston wins	36
Draws	32
Sheffield United wins	54

*H2H stats refer to all competitions

Preston v Sheffield United team news

Preston team news

Preston have a concern over the availability of first-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who picked up a muscle injury last week but still hopes to feature. David Cornell would start between the sticks if Woodman is not risked. Ali McCann (calf) and Layton Stewart (thigh) are also injury doubts.

Sheffield United team news

Tall defender Harry Souttar has joined the Blades on a season-long loan from Leicester and could make his debut. Callum O’Hare and Harrison Burrows are also set to make their competitive bows for the club, but Kieffer Moore and Andre Dozzell are doubts and young defender Levis Pitan has left the club to join Piast Gliwice in Poland.