Sheffield United will host Liverpool at Bramall Lane on Wednesday, looking to bounce back from their disappointing run of form.
Sheffield United are coming into the game against Liverpool on the back of two consecutive defeats, and they have picked up just one win from the last six league matches. The Blades have been in abysmal form, and they are currently at the bottom of the league table with just one win this season.
The home side will have to perform at a very high level in order to grind out a positive result here, but the infamous new manager bounce might be in the works. Paul Heckingbottom is departing from Bramall Lane, with Chris Wilder replacing him, as Sheffield United hope for a turnaround.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are coming into this game on the back of an impressive comeback win over Fulham. They are unbeaten in five of the last six league matches and they will want to put together a winning run now.
A win here could send them to the top of the league table if the other results go their way. Liverpool will be desperate to pick up all three points and a team hoping to challenge for the league title should be able to win this game.
🚨🔴 Sheffield United have sacked the manager Paul Heckingbottom. It’s over as he’s the first PL head coach to be fired.
Chris Wilder, set to return on Sheffield Utd bench — as @JPercyTelegraph has revealed. pic.twitter.com/ZZQxmXFox2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 4, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Sheffield United
The home team will be without a number of players ahead of this game. Rhys Norrington Davies, Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster and George Baldock are all ruled out with thigh injuries. Oliver McBurnie is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in his last outing. Chris Basham and John Eagan are ruled out with ankle injuries. Daniel Jebbison is ill, and he is set to miss out as well.
They are likely to start in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Wes Foderingham in goal. In the back three, Anel Ahmedhodzic will start alongside Jack Robinson and Auston Trusty. Jayden Bogle and Luke Thomas will be deployed as the wing-backs here, and they will look to protect the central defence and provide width to the side as well.
Oliver Norwood will start alongside John Fleck in the middle of the park. The two players will look to keep things compact in the middle. Gustavo Hamer will start alongside James McAtee as the attacking midfielder and the two players will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Cameron Archer will lead the line for the home team.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Bogle, Norwood, Fleck, Thomas; Hamer, McAtee; Archer
Liverpool
Liverpool are already without Thiago Alcantara, who is sidelined until the end of January with a groin injury. Andrew Robertson will return next month following his shoulder surgery, and Stefan Bajcetic is also ruled out for the long-term. Joel Matip picked up a knee injury recently, and he is set to be sidelined for several weeks.
Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker picked up knocks against Manchester City, and they will return to action later later this month. The away side are likely to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute to the attack and protect the central defenders. Ibrahima Konate will start in central defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Alexis Mac Allister will start in the middle of the park in the anchor role. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch will add creativity and drive to the side alongside him. Finally, Darwin Nunez will lead the line for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Key Stats
- Sheffield United have lost eight of their last ten matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have won their last five matches against Sheffield United in all competitions.
- Sheffield United have conceded at least two goals in 11 of their last 13 matches in the Premier League.
- 14 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
Player to Watch
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Three big goals in his last two Premier League matches.
Trent Alexander-Arnold keeps silencing the doubters 🤫 pic.twitter.com/mSDeHNC1e7
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 3, 2023
The 25-year-old Liverpool full-back is our key player to watch out for. Sheffield United are expected to sit deep and make it difficult for the side to find a way past their defensive unit. Liverpool will need Alexander-Arnold’s creativity and vision in the final third in order to create goalscoring opportunities.
The England international is in spectacular form right now, and he has contributed with goals or assists in each of his last three outings. He was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch against Fulham and helped Liverpool pick up all three points. He is likely to make a defining impact here as well.
Prediction
Sheffield United 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have an exceptional record against Sheffield United, and they will look to extend their fine run of form against the bottom-placed team in the Premier League. The home team are lacking in confidence and momentum right now, and they are likely to come up short once again.
Sheffield United have been quite vulnerable defensively, and Liverpool have the attacking quality to expose their defensive frailties. A narrow away win is on the cards here, with the Hard Tackle predicting Liverpool to clinch a 2-1 victory.
