THE DETAILS
Venue – Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Referee – Anthony Taylor
Date & Time – Saturday, September 28th @ 12:30
Current Odds – Sheffield United 13/2, Draw 4/1, Liverpool 9/25
Liverpool travel to Sheffield for the early game in the Premier League this Saturday. The Reds will be trying for a seventh straight league win to start the season and a 16th consecutive victory in the league overall.
FORM
Sheffield United Form
Chris Wilder will be delighted with how Sheffield United have started their Premier League season. They currently sit 10th in the table with two wins, two draws and two losses.
The Blades have only conceded six goals in those six games so they are a pretty solid outfit who can be hard to break down. They showed their qualities with an impressive 2-0 win at Everton last weekend.
Liverpool Form
Much like last season, Liverpool’s only blips so far have been when on the road in the Champions League.
Last Sunday, The Reds won a huge three points against Frank Lampard’s young Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge. A win at Sheffield United will keep them at least five points clear at the top of the Premier League for now.
TEAM NEWS
Sheffield United Team News
Billy Sharp is still suspended for Sheffield United.
The Blades normally line out in a 3-5-2 shape, which becomes 3-5-1-1 or even 3-6-1 when out of possession.
Chris Wilder has been using a pretty settled first eleven with David McGoldrick and Oliver McBurnie the only players to really change places in the lineup.
I think Wilder will once again stick with the team he knows with McBurnie partnering Callum Robinson in the attack.
Their three-man defence will probably spend most of the time as a five with the wide midfielders/wing-backs likely to play a more defensive role to deal with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané.
Liverpool Team News
Alisson Becker is expected to return to first-team action in October. Thankfully, Adrian has been more than competent in the Brazilian’s place between the sticks.
Nathaniel Clyne is out until February at the earliest.
Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi will face late fitness tests after missing the MK Dons game on Wednesday night through injury.
Liverpool should be pretty much at full strength.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Sheffield United XI (3-5-2) – Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, Robinson
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
WHEN THEY LAST MET
Liverpool and Sheffield United have not met since a 4-0 win for The Reds at Anfield in the Premier League in 2007. Robbie Fowler (x2), Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard were the scorers for Rafa Benitez’s side that day.
The last encounter at Bramall Lane was a 1-1 draw, earlier that same season, in August 2006. Rob Hulse gave The Blades the lead after half-time but Robbie Fowler scored a penalty in the 70th minute to snatch a point for Liverpool.
PREDICTION
Sheffield United 0 – 2 Liverpool
I think Liverpool will cope well with Sheffield United. They should keep a clean sheet and win by at least two goals on Saturday. No game is easy in the Premier League (unless you’re City), but Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side has learned to cope with anything that’s thrown at them.
