It was a workmanlike performance from Liverpool as they ruined Chris Wilder’s homecoming at Bramall Lane. Virgil van Dijk got the opener, Dominik Szoboszlai rounded it off and Trent Alexander-Arnold orchestrated it by pulling all the strings.
Liverpool look at least a year ahead of schedule in being title challengers but, now they are there and just behind Arsenal and ahead of Manchester City, they should be seen as genuine contenders. But Klopp says he will refuse to get carried away despite being able to ring the changes, not play at their absolute best and still get the job done. Liverpool boss Klopp said: “We’re not interested in that. I’m really not interested in that. As long as we are around there, I’m fine with that.
“If somebody will write City off, that would be the biggest joke in the history of football. That really makes no sense. Arsenal is obviously fighting. It’s all so difficult, so intense and we’ve got a lot of games coming up. Let’s get through this and ask me again in April.”
There was no fairytale for Wilder who only took over from Paul Heckingbottom 24 hours before the game and will need a miracle to lift them off the bottom. Wilder got a lukewarm reception before the game, the fans did not seem too truly believe in the second coming but, by the end after a big effort from his players, they chanted his name. Man City have now gone four matches without a win ( Image: Getty Images) Sheffield United boss Wilder said: “I get it, I’ve got to earn their trust and I understand some did not want me to come back. But I’m going to park that now and I hope they will as well if we show the right attitude and performances.”
Wilder was also unhappy with referee Simon Hooper – who was the official involved in the Manchester City storm on Sunday for stopping play for a foul rather than play advantage in their draw with Tottenham – for allowing Liverpool’s second goal. Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez challenged Jayden Bogle before crossing for Szoboszlai to score and Wilder believed it was a foul, although it was checked by VAR and was allowed to stand.
Liverpool got their opener after 37 minutes. It was Alexander-Arnold who put over a corner, van Dijk tripped Blades defender Anel Ahmedhodzic and the Liverpool captain then swept home into the net.
Incredibly, Alexander-Arnold now has 75 assists in all competitions since making his Liverpool debut in 2016 and that means only Mo Salah (80) and Kevin De Bruyne (129) are ahead of him. Alexander-Arnold could easily have had a couple more assists to his name but van Dijk headed another corner over and Mo Salah was denied by a super save from Blades keeper Wes Foderingham. Truth be told, the home side never really looked like scoring and Kelleher never had to make a truly big save. But they battled to stay within a goal of the visitors which at least made it a contest until the end.
But Liverpool finally got a second in the 94th minute. Nunez did the hard work by winning a sliding tackle with Bogle, the Liverpool No9 put over a cross field pass to Szoboszlai who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are not even thinking about the title despite moving back to within two points of the top.
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