This was never going to be an occasion which defined Sheffield United’s Premier League survival hopes but, on the night one of their favourite sons returned to the Bramall Lane dugout, it felt like the beginning of something on which to build.
Victory against a Liverpool side front and centre of the title race never felt remotely likely four days after the 5-0 humiliation at Burnley in a game that resulted in Paul Heckingbottom’s sacking. Yes, the end result was the one most expected, with goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai moving Liverpool back to within two points of the leaders, Arsenal. But the manner of the display from the league’s bottom side will have given all those associated with the Blades, Chris Wilder chief among them, hope.
The visitors were not at their free-flowing best here but this was a Sheffield United performance filled with endeavour and commitment, something Wilder demanded in his pre-match programme notes.
The more important challenges are to come over the festive period for the hosts and what Wilder saw here will have encouraged him that survival is not beyond a group of players who have just one league win to their name as Christmas approaches. This was arguably one of their better displays of the campaign thus far and had they taken either of the glorious opportunities presented to them in the first half, they might have had more than pride to take away.
But Jürgen Klopp’s side ultimately managed to secure victory despite being some way from their best, a notable hallmark of any team wishing to deem themselves worthy of being title contenders. They controlled large aspects in possession throughout the evening but lacked the cutting edge in attack we have become accustomed to seeing in recent weeks. But goals always felt likely at some stage, even if the first came from an unlikely source as half-time approached, when Van Dijk steered home a Trent Alexander‑Arnold corner with a finish of which any of Liverpool’s front three would have been proud.
United felt aggrieved that Anel Ahmedhodzic was not awarded in the buildup and had certainly had their chances before falling behind. Wilder named the second-youngest starting lineup in Sheffield United’s Premier League history and they played with purpose. Cameron Archer picked the pocket of Joe Gomez on halfway before finding James McAtee, but he was denied by a superb close-range save from Caoimhín Kelleher. Six minutes later, Will Osula freed Archer but the forward took too long with his shot and Van Dijk blocked his goal‑bound attempt.
The Liverpool captain then opened the scoring at the other end with a wonderful finish, but any notion that would open the floodgates for the visitors proved to be unfounded. Wes Foderingham made a superb point‑blank save to deny Mohamed Salah on the volley shortly after the restart but until added time that was as close as Klopp’s team came to doubling their lead and putting the game beyond doubt. Instead, it was the Blades who showed the greater purpose.
Wilder had instructed the home support to get behind his side on a bitterly cold evening in Sheffield and they certainly responded. The final quarter was anything but the procession many Liverpool supporters would have suspected, with the hosts piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser.
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There were chances, the best of them falling to Archer, who fired a shot on the half-volley over Kelleher’s goal inside the box. But their profligacy proved decisive in injury time as Liverpool put the game beyond doubt, when Darwin Núñez’s pinpoint cross found Szoboszlai unmarked and he coolly converted past Foderingham to secure victory for the visitors. It was certainly nervy but in the end it was job done.
Wilder’s first spell in charge here six years ago began with a four‑game winless run. He will know all too well he cannot afford to replicate that sequence of results this time around but the response from everyone associated with the Blades at full time suggested that, even though they were beaten here, this was a night that has reinvigorated hope that survival is still possible.
