The State of Play
In his final season as Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp is aiming to sign off his time with the Reds by winning a second Premier League title. They come into this one on the back of, once again, grinding out a victory after coming from behind. Danny Welbeck scored a second minute opener in that game before Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah turned the game around to leave them at the top-of-the-table ahead of this midweek’s round of fixtures.
Sheffield United begin the match day sitting rock-bottom in the Premier League table as they await their inevitable relegation to the second-tier to be mathematically confirmed. The Blades had thought they had gone 4-1 up against Fulham at Bramall Lane on Easter Saturday but VAR and then a Cottagers come back meant they ended up fading out for a 3-3 draw.
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Team News
Liverpool are missing several key first-teamers such as goalkeeper Alisson and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Reds are also without Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota with Curtis Jones back available for this week.
Chris Wilder and Sheffield United appear to have escaped serious long-term injuries to Vinicius Souza and Oliver Arblaster but they remain without the likes of John Egan, Chris Basham, George Baldock and Max Lowe.
Expected Line-ups
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz
Sheffield United: Grbic; Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson; Bogle, Souza, Arblaster, Hamer, Osborn; McBurnie, Brereton Diaz
What they Said
Ahead of the clash with Sheffield United, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had said he is ‘dreading’ the impending departure of Jurgen Klopp and described the exit as ‘horrible’.
Chris Wilder criticised suggestions his substitutions have been poor and insisted the reasons for players like Arblaster coming off against Fulham were ‘physical substitutions’.
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at Anfield at 19:30 on Thursday March 4th and will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. It will also be televised live on the TNT Sports app in the UK, too.
Prediction
Liverpool are sitting at the top-of-the-table and they begin the match day two points clear of Arsenal but by the time they kick off on Thursday, they could be behind the Gunners by a point as well as behind Manchester City on goal difference if the Cityzens ruthlessly dispatch Aston Villa on Wednesday evening. This, as a result, could well be a good opportunity for them too boost their own already strong goal difference at home to weak opposition. A heavy home win is to be expected.
