Sheffield United’s spirits rightly remain high despite Premier League winless streak continuing with defeat at Liverpool
On the weekend that British Summer Time officially ended, Chris Wilder’s Blades – a team who ‘go on and on and on’ according to an admiring Jurgen Klopp – comfortably produced their best performance of the campaign at the most forbidding fortress in the land in Anfield.
Their winless league streak at the start of 2020-21 may have extended to six matches, yet the notion that things might get worse before they get better – with games against Manchester City and Chelsea also on the horizon – was refreshingly dispelled.
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Hide AdThis was a Blades performance full of intensity, heart and quality that bore the imprint of Wilder and their head-turning displays of the previous two seasons.
‘The Kop Spirit Survives’ was one of the countless flags draped on one of the iconic stands of English football, which was eerily deserted. Sheffield United’s spirit is also firmly intact.
The visitors did plenty right and after failing to lay a glove on Liverpool at L4 in January, they traded punches this time.
Klopp spoke warmly of his opposite number in his programme notes beforehand. ‘What a guy Chris is and what a football manager’, he effusively said.
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Hide AdThat respect turned to emotions of relief by the end. The German suspected it would not be straightforward and he was right.
United, on the receiving end of too many rough VAR calls to mention, benefitted from one this time to secure a very fortuitous penalty to draw first blood.
Yet there was nothing debatable about the merit of their lead as Liverpool looked fitful without the colossal Virgil van Dijk for the first time in 76 league matches.
It was a night when Wilder’s changes bore fruit and provided encouragement going forward. Ethan Ampadu – playing in a holding midfield role – was excellent in a mature display belying his tender years, while Ben Osborn was non-stop.
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Hide AdGeorge Baldock was back to his marauding best, John Egan was on-message and Sander Berge was composed. There was much to like about this display.
Unfortunately on an occasion when Wilder said that his side would only take something if Liverpool were not at their best and United produced an error-free performance, the visitors ultimately did not fulfil their part of the bargain.
The hosts did not hit the stellar heights they are capable of. But two brief lapses in concentration were punished by Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota as Liverpool moved to within one game of equalling their record run of 63 home league games without defeat at Anfield – set in the years of plenty under Bob Paisley in the late Seventies and early Eighties.
It was not a comfortable night for Liverpool, but they got over the line to grind out a win, as they did on countless occasions last term – including their victory at Bramall Lane last autumn.
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Hide AdA strange season it has been thus far and that was reinforced when the visitors took the lead on 13 minutes amid controversy.
Liverpool had flown out of the traps with Egan making a key clearance to deny Mo Salah after Sadio Mane rounded Aaron Ramsdale, with the Blades goalkeeper then saving the day after nearly being caught out by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s audacious free-kick inside his own half.
But without Van Dijk, they looked vulnerable with Oli McBurnie giving their rearguard all sorts of trouble in the first half.
Fabinho’s tackle on the striker right on the edge of the box saw Mike Dean indicate a foul and video technology was consulted. Replays seemed to show that the Brazilian won the ball.
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Hide AdIt was initially thought that VAR did not check whether or not the challenge was a foul, but just if it was inside or outside of the box. The Premier League later confirmed that they did.
Confused? Frustrated? So are many others as the Stockley Park overlords continue to pollute football games at the top level.
A penalty was given and Berge coolly stroked the ball past the returning Alisson – the first spot-kick for a visiting side at Anfield in the league since October 2018 – and initially, a ragged Liverpool side looked in bother.
McBurnie fired wide after a contender for pass of the season from Ampadu, while Alisson turned away Osborn’s rasping volley from Baldock’s fine centre as United pushed for a second.
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Hide AdUnited’s first indiscretion proved telling. Mane got between Chris Basham and Baldock from Jordan Henderson’s superb cross to plant a header towards goal. Ramsdale parried well, but Firmino gobbled up the rebound.
It was harsh on the Blades, but more proactive play on the restart – with Baldock going close – showed they were not feeling sorry for themselves as they continued to take the game to Liverpool.
That was reinforced when substitute Oli Burke ghosted past the toiling Fabinho before seeing his goalbound shot blocked by Joe Gomez, fortunately more alert than his defensive partner.
Liverpool gradually stepped it up a gear. VAR correctly ruled out a brilliant strike from Salah for offside, but moments later, there was no need for technology.
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Hide AdJota was not taken care of by Enda Stevens and Osborn and found space to clinically head home Mane’s centre.
Salah later hit a post, while David McGoldrick and Burke spurned chances as United went out ‘by the front door’ to coin one of Wilder’s favourite phrases.
A defeat maybe. But Sheffield United’s season may just have started in earnest.