Sheffield United vs Liverpool
England – Premier League
Date: Saturday, 28 September 2019
Kick-off at 12:30 UK/ 13:30 CET
Venue: Bramall Lane (Sheffield).
Match preview
Five points clear at the top after six games is the position that any team will happily accept, even if Liverpool needed reminding about the qualities they chase them and then they were last weekend when champions Manchester City blew an eight-goal Watford went evisceration.
The result piled extra pressure on Jurgen Klopp's side on their way to Chelsea a day later, but the red machine kept rolling with a 2-1 victory in West London, showed the maturity to see the game under pressure of late.
Liverpool have now won 15 matches on flights in a row, extending a club record their own again, and running Manchester City from 18 a few seasons ago is now the only time in the history of English football where the team has been on the run better victory in division on.
Indeed, the record seemed to fall every week for this Liverpool side, although Klopp will know that their status as one of the greatest ever British team - statistics show the label they deserve - will depend almost entirely on the accrual silver along the way.
The Premier League is, of course, great, but they have been disappointing in the domestic league for several seasons and a 2-0 victory Wednesday at MK Dons because it would be a welcome continuation of their winning ways, albeit with a completely different XI.
A fourth-round game against Arsenal is their reward - a game that will end a run of tough games to come. After this weekend, Liverpool face Leicester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the succession, as well as the Champions League outing against Salzburg and Genk.
Liverpool and Man City standards set last season means that any down points are very significant, but given that the upcoming run anything other than a win in the early kickoff Saturday would be a big blow for the Reds who have not been perfect.
The visitors will certainly be a favorite significant heading into the contest considering they are now 23 games unbeaten league - the second-longest run in their history - while they have won their last 12 matches them against the newly promoted team, only conceded four goals in time that.
It is safe to say that Saturday's game could be one scary for Sheffield United, then, despite Chris Wilder's men have proved that they are not the type to get scared coming against quality opposition.
Since returning to the top flight for the first time since 2007, Blades has mainly come from two goals down to draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and only last weekend ended the record fine Liverpool Merseyside neighbors Everton.
European champions visit is a step up from it again, though, and pulled it in front of their own fans in which the most disappointing results they have come so far this season.
United have lost three of their last four games at home in all competitions, the last slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of League One Cup EFL Sunderland in the third round on Wednesday night.
This is a problem that must be at the top of the agenda for the repair if the Blades are to get the points they need to stay in the division, although three of the next four home games they come up against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, so it will be difficult to change the shape of that around ,
In general, though, the Americans will be very pleased with the start of their campaign - of course if you had offered them a place mid-table at this time then they will take it - and they must do the shock against Liverpool on Saturday and they can even while moving as high as third place.
Not since 1990 had England lost three home games on low on the bounce - and not since 2013 in any division - and there is more reason for optimism in the fact that Liverpool have not won a Premier League match at Bramall Lane, one of only three stadiums in where it happened.
In a week when Klopp was crowned the best coach of the men's FIFA Saturday guests can also claim to have a great reputation manager; since the start of the 2014-15 campaign, no boss has won more English league games (125) or more points earned (426) in the four upper floors Wilder.
Opta stats
Sheffield United has not hosted Liverpool in a match in a competition since the opening day of the Premier League season 2006-07 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.
Liverpool have never won a Premier League match at Bramall Lane in three attempts (W0 D2 L1), although those games were played in 1992, 1993 and 2006.
Bramall Lane is one of three reasons Liverpool have played without winning the Premier League (three games), with City Ground Nottingham Forest (five games) and Bloomfield Road (a game) Blackpool.
Liverpool have won their last 12 Premier League games against newly promoted sides, scoring 35 times and conceding only four goals in this race; the last team to win a race more against newly promoted teams was Spurs (16 wins between 2015 and 2018).
Sheffield United has not lost three consecutive home games in the competition in the league since February 2013, when in League One. The last time they lost three straight at Bramall Lane in the top flight was in October of 1990.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 23 Premier League games, winning the last 15 in a row. Between May 1987 and March 1988 they contain unbeaten in the top flight history (31 games).
Prediction Sheffield United vs Liverpool
Although Chris Wilder has won more English league games (125) and won more points (425) than any other manager in the first four levels of English football since 2014-15, its side against a team largely trust that is bent on chasing glory. They are led by FIFA Best Male Coach of the Year Jürgen Klopp. The blades can create resistance, but Liverpool should be able to overcome them.
Sheffield United 0-3 Liverpool
