Liverpool 2-0 Sheffield United (Dec 6, 2023) Game Analysis

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk scored a first-half volley to place them heading in the right direction for a 2-0 Premier League victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday, handing new Blades boss Chris Wilder a shedding begin on his return to the membership.

The win lifts second-placed Liverpool to 34 factors, two behind leaders Arsenal, whereas Wilder faces an uphill battle after taking up Sheffield United on Tuesday as they continue to be rooted to the underside of the desk on 5 factors after 15 video games.

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Yet regardless of the defeat, Wilder shall be inspired by how nicely his aspect defended in a recreation the place Liverpool loved greater than 75 % of the possession, however solely created a handful of respectable efforts on objective.

Liverpool captain Van Dijk volleyed house his first objective of the season within the thirty seventh minute as the house aspect’s soft-centred defence left him utterly unmarked from a nook to deftly side-foot the ball into the online.

The Netherlands worldwide expressed reduction on the closing whistle as his aspect escaped with a victory following a spirited efficiency from their hosts.

“Obviously, you have to work for every game, especially against a team who changed manager. It was always going to a battle but we did well and deserved the three points,” Van Dijk mentioned. “When you get a free opportunity like that, you have to finish it off (and) I’m glad that I did. It’s an important goal, especially when you try to beat a low block.”

Though Cameron Archer and James McAtee supplied loads of tempo on the counter for the hosts, they lacked the standard to hassle Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher and the house aspect managed just one shot on the right track in the entire recreation.

Mohamed Salah pressured an excellent reflex save from Wes Foderingham with a volley from one other nook early within the second half, and Juergen Klopp was handed one other headache shortly afterwards when Alexis Mac Allister was pressured off after choosing up a knee harm.

Substitute Darwin Núñez missed an amazing likelihood to double the lead within the 77th minute as he latched onto an excellent through-ball from Alexander-Arnold, however once more Foderingham got here to the rescue.

The house aspect’s keeper seemed to have stored his aspect within the recreation, however he was lastly overwhelmed once more deep into second-half stoppage time as Dominik Szoboszlai was picked out on the opposite aspect of the field by Nunez, and he rifled the ball house.