It was not a surprise that Liverpool ended a recent poor run of form and four successive defeats to get back to winning ways against the bottom of the table Blades side. Jurgen Klopp had become involved in an odd spat with United manager Wilder earlier in the season but it was the German who got the better of his counterpart making it four wins out of four for the Reds over the Blades in the last two seasons. In a game where United at least had a go, after some pitiful recent defeats, they were indebted though to Aaron Ramsdale who kept them in the game before two goals from Curtis Jones and a Kean Bryan deflected effort took the game away from the Blades. United created little but nearly got an own goal in the first half and Oli McBurnie missed a good headed chance at 0-1. In truth, Liverpool could have had 7 or 8 goals though with better finishing or with Ramsdale, not on his game and the margin of victory flattered the home side despite toiling for long spells.
United made two changes with one enforced and one chosen. In came Norwood for Basham with Ampadu switching to defence and McGoldrick was brought back for Sharp, with Oli McBurnie retaining his place upfront. Liverpool was without goalkeeper Alisson due to compassionate reasons and Adrian came in. Nat Phillips started at the back alongside Ozan Kabak. There was no Jordan Henderson but they still had the much-vaunted front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino.
Under the lights, the Blades started competitively and McBurnie flicked onto McGoldrick who was brought down for a free-kick. Norwood put a dangerous one in and via a combination of McGoldrick and Mane, the ball went towards Adrian who made the save although the striker may have been offside if the ball had gone in.
Liverpool’s first threat came with a diagonal ball over the top that put in Robertson and as Baldock switched off, Ramsdale did well to come off his line and out of his box to execute the clearance. The game had been relatively even and United had been able to win their fair share of tackles and have enough of the ball but ought to have been behind on 10 minutes as a ball over the top saw Ampadu lose the header and Firmino was in after the ball broke a bit fortuitously. The striker was one on one but as Ramsdale went down he hit the keeper and was not able to lift it over him. It was a good save. After Ampadu miskicked the ball was returned and several other attempts to clear was missed and Robertson’s cross-shot nearly caught the keeper out who again did well to flick behind.
Liverpool now was taking control and Jones individual skill got him away from the trailing Lundstram but the midfielder at least got back to hold him up and from the resultant corner, McBurnie showed his aerial prowess at the back.
On 16 minutes, Bryan fired in a good ball to McBurnie who held the ball up to McGoldrick whose shot hit his fellow striker on the way through and was tipped round the post by Adrian.
Ramsdale had been alert all night and came out and clasped the ball again but his poor kick led to a diagonal ball that caught out Baldock again and Jones was in but the keeper managed to recover his error with a brave block.
Report by deadbat_db
United won another free-kick but Fleck’s poor free-kick saw Liverpool break after Mane got away from McBurnie but the Scottish midfielder got ack to make the interception as the Reds threatened to get in.
Bryan put in a good ball but McBurnie could not react quick enough before Jagielka got in at the other end to make a block after Baldock went down too easily and Salah hit a fierce shot.
Another back pass that was unnecessary to Ramsdale saw the ball come back again and was between Bryan and Jagielka for Salah who cut in and tried to go across the United keeper but he made another good save. Soon after Norwood and Ampadu overplayed in trying to defend and the latter’s poor ball was straight to Alexander Arnold who hit a fierce shot after coming inside and sitting his man down but once again Ramsdale made the big save with firm hands.
On 35 minutes, United thought they were ahead against the run of play as the ball over the top put McBurnie in a chase with Kabak and the defender knocked it past his keeper Adrian completely wrong-footing him in a goal reminiscent of the one Chelsea scored for the Blades recently. However, the flag went up and replays showed it was the right decision and not that close.
McGoldrick did well to hold things up and found Fleck after strong and clever link play but the midfielder took too long and once again the flag went up although this time it may have been closer if anything had resulted.
Fleck slipped over in the middle of the park and Salah had a chance but Jagielka made a good block again before another great chance came to the Champions. Wijnaldum was teed up by Thiago and was given way too much time to pick his spot but his fierce shot was beaten away by the excellent Ramsdale again. The rebound came to Firmino who seemed set to score but strangely opted to pass and his ball across goal was cleared by the relieved United defence.
On 42 minutes, another free-kick opportunity presented but McGoldrick’s header lacked the necessary purchase and was cleared. Subsequently, Lundstram’s pass was overplayed to McBurnie.
There were no further chances as half time came without any additional time played. Liverpool really should have been in front with several clear chances and Ramsdale had been inspired but the Blades had caused a few problems the other way and it was not one-way traffic.
The second half was only a few minutes old when Liverpool took the lead. Stevens lost a 50-50 tackle and as the ball broke, Trent Alexander reacted quicker and Stevens dithered again. The ball was close to going out but as it came across Jagielka’s clearance was poor and none of the midfield reacted at all. The ball sat perfectly for JONES who smashed home.
After this Liverpool started going through the gears and United struggled to hold them. Mane was in and clipped home but the offside flag saved them.
Alexander Arnold then fired wide after a mazy run when he ran through and it may have taken a touch off Jagielka. Liverpool was threatening to run riot and Wilder made two changes with Burke and Osborn on for McGoldrick and Jagielka. United switched to 4-4-2 in an attempt to get a foothold back in the game an for a spell it seemed to work.
United had a great chance to level when Norwood’s cross was superbly whipped in and McBurnie had to score but headed wide under no pressure.
United had another chance when McBurnie was in on the angle but the striker took too long and Kabak got his foot in and cleared. The corner came in but as Adrian punched clear, Norwood fired well wide as it dropped in a difficult chance.
After this improvement, Liverpool took the game away from the Blades. Jones did well down the right and played it inside and Firmino was able to take several touches as Bryan and Ampadu did not go to him. Stevens then walked past the ball and as the shot came in, it went in off BRYAN (OG) and looped over the diving Ramsdale and it was 2-0. It was a fortunate deflection as it was probably going wide but once again poor defending from the Blades and it was all too easy.
United tried to respond and Burke got in down the side but his cross-shot went further away from the goal than towards it summing up his lack of confidence in front of the goal. Two poor moments from Lundstram then broke up two possible attacks as Burke continued to threaten but Ampadu made a good tackle as Mane nearly got in down the right.
United had a bit more of the ball but Liverpool was comfortable now and was eased to the victory.
Robertson got in after good football saw it moved across but he fired it over with 15 minutes left to play. Milner came on for Thiago in Liverpool’s first substitution. It should have been 3-0 as Robertson’s cross saw Salah somehow put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Sharp came on for Fleck with 10 minutes to play as Wilder opted not to use Brewster or one of the other young players. Mane got away from Ampadu and stayed on his feet. If he had gone down, he would have got a penalty in all likelihood.
A late chance for Burke saw him nearly get in but he could not get the ball away and Adrian made the block as he tried to go round him. The game entered three minutes of stoppage time but nothing happened of note and Liverpool saw things out to get back to winning ways.