Traditionally, Christmas is the time when the Premier League table starts to take shape and it's easier to see which teams will be involved in a relegation scrap, who will be fighting for Europe and what a title race will look like.
However, it can also bring about pressure from fans and owners if a team or manager is not performing to the standards required.
The traditional Christmas curse
It's never ideal to be propping up the Premier League table at Christmas. This is because in the 31 seasons of Premier League football, only four teams have been able to avoid dropping down into the Championship after being bottom at Christmas and they were West Bromwich Albion 04/05, Sunderland 13/14, Leicester City 14/15 and Wolverhampton Wanderers 22/23.
As they were in their most recent relegation season (2020/21) Sheffield United are the unfortunate team this year. The Blades are stuck on eight points, and with a goal difference of -31 – which is by far the worst in the entire league – Blades fans should indeed be very worried, even with Chris Wilder now at the helm.
Sheffield United bottom at Christmas: Can the Blades beat PL's infamous curse?
Will Chris Wilder be enough to keep Sheffield United up?
It's safe to say that Sheffield United have started to turn a corner and look more like a Premier League outfit under Chris Wilder, but they have left themselves with a mountain to climb given how poor they were under Paul Heckingbottom.
The Blades lost 8-0 in front of their home fans earlier this season with many seeing this as the point of no return for their former boss and the club's chances of staying in the division, however, four points from four games has certainly seen Wilder make a big impact.
However, they are still rotted to the foot of the table and favourites to be relegated, but if Wilder keeps improving the team and making them much more difficult to beat they will certainly have a chance of beating the drop.
Could the January transfer window help?
Sheffield United were the sixth lowest spenders in the Premier League during the summer transfer window where they also sold star midfielder Sander Berge, so it was a bleak look ahead to the 2023/24 season before a ball had even been kicked.
That theme is likely to continue in the January transfer window with money tight and an owner unwilling to dip into his back pocket with the threat of relegation a very serious one.
With this current crop of players, it looks set to be a very long and tough season for the Blades and could well be a step too far for them to get out of the bottom three.
Can Sheffield United buck the trend and avoid relegation?
As the stats show, it's very difficult to be bottom at Christmas and stay in the division with four clubs doing it in Premier League history, but with fan favourite Wilder in the dugout, the club certainly has a new sense of belief and confidence.
It's going to be a tough battle for the Blades who sit five points from safety which is a lot to turn around at this stage of the season, but strange things have happened, and Wilder knows the club and how to keep them in the division.
Remember to check out our free betting tips over this festive period.
