Bottom of the table Sheffield United entertain Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday evening.
Sheffield United appeared to be on their way to picking up a vital three points against Fulham, but for the second game running they managed to succumb to two-goal advantage after previously drawing 2-2 away at Bournemouth before the international break.
As they approach Thursday’s match against Liverpool, they come off the back of securing four points from their last three away games. This marks a significant improvement compared to the two points they managed in their initial 11 away fixtures this season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool displayed resilience by rallying from behind to secure a crucial victory, triumphing 2-1 against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Easter Sunday in a Premier League encounter.
With nine matches left in the season, Jurgen Klopp’s side currently occupies the top spot in the league standings. They lead the captivating three-way title race, holding a two-point advantage over Arsenal, in second, and enjoying a three-point cushion over reigning champions Manchester City at the time of this report.
Team news
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder will have to manage without the services of George Baldock and Tom Davies once more with both expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks. On a brighter note, striker Cameron Archer, who is currently recovering from a calf injury, is anticipated to return to action before the end of the season, Wilder revealed in his pre-match press conference.
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is set to make his return for the first time since sustaining an injury in February. Additionally, there is a possibility of Andy Robertson returning to the squad after being absent in the previous match against Brighton.
However, there are concerns regarding Wataru Endo’s availability as he picked up a knock last weekend, casting doubt on his availability for Jurgen Klopp.
Players to watch
It’s a well known fact by now that Liverpool deploy a very high line, and realistically a quick counterattack or a set piece is probably United’s best chance of getting something from the game.
On that note, Ben Brereton-Diaz is my player to watch against Liverpool. He had an outstanding performance against Fulham scoring two goals and adding an assist for strike partner Oli McBurnie.
The Chilean possesses pace and he’s explosive when on the ball, this could cause the Reds plenty of issues if the Blades can somehow isolate him one-vs-one with a defender in transition.
For the home side, the obvious choice would be Mohamed Salah, but Alexis Mac Allister is coming off one of the best individual performances of the season in my opinion. Against Brighton he ended the game with a 92% pass completion rate and five key passes, including an assist.
In the past five matches, Alexis Mac Allister has played a crucial role in Liverpool’s goals, contributing with two goals and four assists directly.
Stats
Liverpool have secured victories in their previous six league encounters, conceding just once in the process.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s last league triumph over Liverpool dates back to April 1994 when they emerged victorious at Anfield.
Liverpool have only suffered one defeat in 39 home league games against newly promoted teams, which occurred against Fulham in March 2021. In that span, they have recorded 32 wins and 6 draws.
Sheffield United have conceded a total of 77 goals this season, trailing just 12 goals behind Derby County’s record for most goals conceded in a 38-match Premier League season.
