Stoke City have lost their last two league meetings with Sheffield United, but have won their last two against them on home soil (1-0 in April 2022 and 3-1 in October 2022). Having won this season's reverse fixture (2-0), Sheffield United could do the league double over Stoke City for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.

After the heartbreak of losing the Championship playoff final to Southampton last May at Wembley Stadium, Leeds United will secure promotion to the Premier League at Elland Road at the second attempt on Monday afternoon should they beat Stoke, and Sheffield United fail to win on the same day.

The increasingly predictable swapping of teams between the Premier League and Championship creates expectations, but Stoke City have unwittingly put into perspective what Leeds United and Burnley have achieved this season,