Preview: Sheffield United vs. Liverpool: lineups, news about the teams and prediction.

Sheffield United returns to the Bramall Lane faithful when they welcome Liverpool in Wednesday’s Premier League match, amid rumours that Paul Heckingbottom may be fired.

against the weekend, Liverpool extended their unbeaten home record at Anfield with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Fulham, while the Blades were humiliated 5-0 by Burnley.

Match Preview.

Before Burnley’s trip to Turf Moor on Saturday, the Clarets had visited the pitch seven times during the 2023–24 Premier League season, and each time they had lost, creating an unwelcome new record for the tournament.

But within 15 seconds of the Lancashire kickoff, the demolition job was under way. Jay Rodriguez scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this year, followed by goals from Zeki Amdouni, Luca Koleosho, Josh Brownhill, and Jacob Bruun Larsen, all of which were scored in front of an irate Heckingbottom.

The Blades board has stuck by Heckingbottom despite the manager’s growing difficulties this season, but Saturday’s five-goal humiliation may be the last straw for the manager, as Sheffield United is reportedly considering firing Heckingbottom before Liverpool visits Bramall Lane.

Chris Wilder, the 56-year-old who led Sheffield United back to the top flight and to a remarkable top-half ranking in 2019–20, is reportedly close to making a Blades comeback. With the hosts currently at the bottom of the Premier League standings, Wilder will be returning to his former haunts.

Even if Sheffield United upsets Liverpool, they will still be below the dreaded dotted line since they have a four-point deficit to make up to 17th-place Luton Town. However, that notion may be dashed if they fail to record a single clean sheet in the 2023–24 Premier League season.

When Liverpool played Fulham on Sunday at Anfield, defences did not fare well either. Jurgen Klopp acknowledged that his team was penalised for being “a bit dumb” in the defensive third, but his team more than made up for their defensive flaws with four spectacular goals.

The Reds won 11 of their 11 home games in 2023–24 thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 87th minute, Wataru Endo’s excellent finish, Bernd Leno’s own goal, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Kenny Tete, and Harry Wilson. This match also added to the ever-expanding list of memorable Premier League matches this season.

Unrestrained Merseyside excitement would not have subsided later in the evening either, as Klopp’s team enters the midweek schedule sitting second in the rankings, two points behind leaders Arsenal before the Gunners play Luton Town on Tuesday. This is due to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur’s incredible 3-3 draw.

The Anfield fortress’ walls are still untarnished, but Liverpool has only won one of its previous six away games across all competitions (a 2-1 EFL Cup triumph against Bournemouth), and in all ten of the team’s away games this season, the visitors have both scored and conceded.

Sheffield United has much-needed hope because of Liverpool’s four-game winning streak against promoted teams in the top level. However, the Reds have won five straight Premier League games against the Blades, whose previous victory in this matchup dates back to an EFL Cup match in 2003.

Team news 

The manager of Wednesday’s match will be without striker Oli McBurnie, who was sent off for two elbows in his team’s crushing loss to Burnley. Heckingbottom was fired, and Wilder has not yet been confirmed to come back.

A hamstring injury also limited right-back George Baldock to just 25 minutes of play in that game. He will probably be sidelined on Wednesday. Other players who are undoubtedly out include Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), John Egan (ankle), Daniel Jebbison (illness), and former Liverpool attacker Rhian Brewster (thigh).

Jayden Bogle should start for the hosts in place of the suspended McBurnie, unless Baldock returns from the medical bay remarkably quickly. James McAtee is the most likely choice to rejoin.

Joel Matip, who appeared to suffer a knee injury during the second half of Liverpool’s seven-goal showdown with Fulham, pushed from the game; Klopp has acknowledged that the Cameroonian will not be out for a short while. This presents Liverpool with a fresh defensive injury concern.

Matip becomes the fifth member of the Liverpool team to be hospitalised; the other four are Alisson Becker (thigh), Diogo Jota (muscle), Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Thiago Alcantara (hip), and Stefan Bajcetic (calf).

Luckily for Klopp, Ibrahima Konate is healthy again and ready to immediately return to the starting lineup. With players like Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Cody Gakpo vying for recalls, the Reds manager shouldn’t mind making a few adjustments here and there.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Bogle, Souza, Norwood, Larouci; Hamer, McAtee; Archer

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Prediction: Sheffield United 1-4 Liverpool

This season, Liverpool has had little success keeping opponents at bay on the road. The Reds were penalised for many careless play sequences against Fulham, during which Alisson Becker was not available to produce his usual game-saving saves.

A much-needed managerial change may give a battered Blades lineup new energy, but their defensive problems won’t go away quickly, and the hosts will face another punishing day against Liverpool’s prolific offensive unit.