Aiming for Arsenal’s spot atop the Premier League table, Liverpool travel to embattled Sheffield United for a midweek top flight match.
The second-placed Reds sit five points adrift of the Gunners after their win over Luton Town the previous day, and will need all three points here to keep pace. Any slips would not only see Liverpool fail to stay within reach of the summit, but also could allow Man City (one point back) or Aston Villa (two points back) to jump them.
Meanwhile, the Blades are in their first match with old manager Chris Wilder back in charge. The 56-year-old, who managed Sheffield United for five years before his departure in 2021, has returned to replace the recently sacked Paul Heckingbottom.
Heckingbottom’s dismissal comes with Sheffield United sitting bottom of the Premier League table on just five points through 14 matches. While it seemed things were starting to turn after positive results against Wolves and Brighton in early November, a pair of heavy defeats to Bournemouth and Burnley were enough to see out a managerial change.
The Sporting News is following the Sheffield United vs Liverpool match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Sheffield United vs Liverpool live score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| Sheffield Utd | 0 | – |
| Liverpool | 0 | – |
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. local (2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT)
Location: Bramall Lane (Sheffield, England)
Referee: Simon Hooper
Starting lineups:
Sheffield United (3-4-3, right to left): 18. Foderingham (GK) – 5. Trusty, 19. Robinson, 15. Ahmedhodzic – 20. Bogle, 21. Souza, 28. McAtee, 35. Brooks – 10. Archer, 8. Hamer, 32. Osula.
Liverpool (4-3-3, right to left): 62. Kelleher (GK) — 66. Alexander-Arnold, 5. Konate, 4. van Dijk, 2. Gomez — 8. Szoboszlai, 3. Endo, 10. Mac Allister — 11. Salah, 18. Gakpo, 7. Diaz.
Sheffield United vs Liverpool live updates, highlights, commentary
Sheffield United vs Liverpool: First Half
18th min: Liverpool have a long spell of possession but they can’t get a shot off. The Blades break dangerously again, but Cameron Archer’s charge is cut down inside the penalty area by a wonderful tackle from Virgil van Dijk. Excellent challenge at the last possible moment.
12th min: Chance, Sheffield United! The Blades break immediately off the second Liverpool corner thanks to an error by Joe Gomez, but Caoimhin Kelleher makes a stellar save on James McAtee! The 21-year-old was threaded through by Cameron Archer on the counter with the help of a fortunate deflection, but the Liverpool goalkeeper came off his line and made a wonderful reflex save!
James McAtee’s shot on goal is saved by Kelleher. ⚽️🧤 pic.twitter.com/MnX23kWev2
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 6, 2023
11th min: Mohamed Salah has a pair of chances. First he gets on the end of a cross from the left but whips the ball miles over the crossbar. Then Liverpool break down the middle moments later and Salah has a shot blocked out for a corner.
The first set-piece is swung in by Dominik Szoboszlai and dealt with awkwardly by the Blades defence as the ball is looped out over the crossbar for another corner. The second delivery is short and cleared easily.
5th min: There’s an early problem for Liverpool as Alexis Mac Allister is down requiring treatment, with his head in his hands. He was clipped from behind which caused him to fall awkwardly into an opponent. That’s a naughty challenge, but there’s no intent on that really.
The treatment is to his ankle, which looks to have been taped under his sock, and he is up and set to continue, although limping a bit. He chats with the referee and is seemingly happy with Simon Hooper’s explanation of why there was no booking for Gustavo Hamer.
2nd min: Sheffield United have an early set-piece chance and there’s a good free-kick delivery from Gustavo Hamer, but it evades anyone in red and white as his teammates arrive late. That was a chance but it goes begging at the far post.
Kickoff: They’re under way at Bramall Lane! A lot on the line for both clubs here respective to their goals this season. Sheffield United can pull off the bottom of the table with a win, but they’ll be happy with any points today, while Liverpool must win to stay within one result of Arsenal at the top.
There they are pic.twitter.com/DkXotcY9Kk
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) December 6, 2023
Sheffield United vs Liverpool: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more
15 mins to kickoff: Defensive midfielder Vinicius Souza has quietly been one of Sheffield United’s best players this season. His tackling in particular is out of this world, averaging 3.69 tackles attempted per 90 minutes and winning 1.66 of them, both of which rank in the top three percentile of European midfielders.
While that success rate will need to improve a bit, the volume is there, and he should hopefully improve with the backing of the new manager. The 24-year-old Brazilian has a big job to do today handling this rejuvenated Liverpool midfield!
Big Vini! 👋🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/AjQp9DXIX7
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 6, 2023
30 mins to kickoff: Of the five goal scorers for Liverpool in their last four games against Sheffield United, only one is currently on the pitch today: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian scored four minutes into their 2-0 victory over the Blades in January 2020, but the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Gini Wijnaldum are no longer with the club, while Diogo Jota is injured and Curtis Jones is on the bench.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, managed just one goal in those four games, a Sander Berge penalty during a 2-1 defeat back in October of 2020. Berge is now with Burnley, who are also in relegation trouble.
Mo Salah moves on to 199 for Liverpool 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jYp8yd0Adt
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) November 30, 2023
45 mins to kickoff: Wataru Endo’s 87th minute equaliser against Fulham over the weekend was his first league goal for the club, and a massive one at that. He and Alexis Mac Allister both bagged their first league goal for the Reds in game, and while Endo’s wasn’t nearly as pretty as the Goal of the Season candidate Mac Allister struck, it’s still seemed to have earned him a place in today’s Liverpool XI.
Wataru Endo has already scored twice in 16 appearances for Liverpool this season.
Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Naby Keita and James Milner scored zero goals in 176 appearances between them last season.
Yes, you read that correctly!
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) December 4, 2023
1 hour to kickoff: Starting lineups are in! For Liverpool, Wataru Endo starts in midfield ahead of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, or Harvey Elliott. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez comes in at left-back to spell Kostas Tsimikas, and Cody Gakpo enters up top for the misfiring Darwin Nunez.
Meanwhile, for Sheffield United, Chris Wilder makes a host of changes in his first game back. Jayden Bogle enters the XI ahead of Luke Thomas at right wing-back, while 20-year-old winger Andre Brooks is slotted into midfield alongside Vini Souza, with Oliver Norwood and John Fleck beaten to the spots. Additionally, William Osula enters the attack while Benie Traore sits.
Words on why Cody Gakpo could be Liverpool’s most important player over the next month. https://t.co/r2kKQD1F5Y
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) December 1, 2023
1 hour 15 mins to kick: At some point, Darwin Nunez is going to have to find his shooting boots in front of goal for Liverpool. The Uruguayan has been electric at times this season, but his poor finishing has put the Reds in bad positions in games they should have won handily.
This year, Nunez has four goals in Premier League play despite an expected goals (xG) value of 8.18, a differential of -4.18. Last season, he had a differential of -5.37 (nine goals on 14.37 xG). His misses are meme-worthy, and while he’s done plenty of great things, he has to start burying chances at a higher rate if he is to help Liverpool avoid the occasional slips that keep teams from winning titles.
📈Darwin Nunez vs Luton Town:
9 Shots
3 Big Chances missed
0.90 xG
1.41 xGOT0 goals
A classic Nunez show show😬 pic.twitter.com/pBfCYb4ECP
— Fantasy Gold FPL (@fantasygoldgh) November 6, 2023
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Last time these two teams met, a 2-0 Liverpool road victory back in February of 2021, Curtis Jones impressed in the midst of his first full season as a first-team player with the Reds. Just fresh off his 20th birthday, Jones scored a 48th minute opener and helped Liverpool to what would be their only win amidst an awful seven-game stretch with six defeats.
He took four shots and put three on target, completing 26 of his 27 pass attempts on 42 touches. Jones has struggled to find the field of late, thanks to a myriad of issues like suspension, injury, and form amidst a crowded Liverpool midfield. Will he get another chance today, after Ryan Gravenberch started against Fulham over the weekend?
The last time Liverpool faced off against Sheffield United, Curtis Jones caught the eye.
One goal
One key pass
96% pass success rate pic.twitter.com/SKU33tWA3p— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) December 6, 2023
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Is the “new manager bounce” a real thing Liverpool have to worry about today? Goal.com broke down the numbers back in January, and they found there’s something to be said.
Of 26 managerial changes that took place through the first half of last season, 20 of them averaged more points per match over their first five games than their predecessor did prior to the change. In nine of them, the new boss achieved a points per match mark of at least double his predecessor. That’s quite the jump! It’s not necessarily sustainable, but there’s definitely something there for the Reds to be aware of today.
2 hours to kickoff: Sheffield United have brought old boss Chris Wilder back into the fold, a bold move with the club in peril. A move like this certainly feels as if Wilder will remain in charge regardless of whether he can keep the Blades afloat, as there were likely other options if they wished to bring aboard a true fixer-upper.
Welcome back Chris, congrats on the appointment, here’s a game against Liverpool in about 28 hours!
“Thanks very much for the fixture list” 😂
Chris Wilder on being back at Sheffield United 💬pic.twitter.com/k4QuY7cqAF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 5, 2023
Sheffield United vs Liverpool lineups, team news
Chris Basham, Rhian Brewster, Tom Davies, Daniel Jebbison and John Egan are all out for Sheffield United, while George Baldock is doubtful to add to the Blades’ injury woes.
Rhys Norrington-Davies has been back in training but is yet to return and Oli McBurnie is suspended following his dismissal in their 5-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday. New manager Chris Wilder may have some new ideas, of course, about how to line up his team.
Sheffield United starting lineup (3-4-3): Foderingham (GK) – Trusty, Robinson, Ahmedhodzic – Bogle, Souza, McAtee, Brooks – Archer, Hamer, Osula.
Sheffield United subs (9): Davies (GK), Larouci, Lowe, L. Thomas, Norwood, Seriki, Fleck, Slimane, B. Traore.
First-choice Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will miss out again, with Republic of Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher in line to cover for the first-choice Brazilian. Alisson is “closer” to a return according to Jurgen Klopp, but misses out here.
Joel Matip suffered a knee injury in the win over Fulham, with Klopp saying it “doesn’t look good” for the Reds defender. Diogo Jota, Andrew Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara all remain sidelined with various injuries, with Jota the nearest to fitness after returning to training.
Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Gomez — Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Endo — Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Liverpool subs (9): Adrian (GK), Pitaluga (GK), Tsimikas, Quansah, C. Bradley, Gravenberch, H. Elliott, C. Jones, Nunez.
How to watch Sheffield United vs Liverpool: TV channel, live stream
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
Sheffield United vs Liverpool betting odds, lines
| SHU win |
Draw | LIV win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings (USA) |
+1200 | +700 | -500 | -120 / -105 | -310 / +240 |
