Liverpool travel to Bramall Lane in tough lunchtime kick-off

Can Liverpool maintain their 100% start to the season? Next up is the tough test of Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.

Six out of six. Top of the league. Could anything be going better for Jurgen Klopp?

Albeit with a subdued performance from senior players, they coasted through their third round League Cup tie in Milton Keynes and have next the task of facing one of the most innovative and wonderful promoted teams to have graced the league in recent years.

Not many predicted the Sheffield United storm to strike the league as it has done thus far. Wins against Crystal Palace and Everton, and draws at Stamford Bridge and the Vitality have earned them a very respectable tenth after six games.

And their transfer business did seem to forecast perhaps another campaign in the Championship. Investing in the likes of Freeman, McBurnie and Robinson did seem to at least leave something to be desired in terms of Premier League experience. However, they’ve all excelled in their own rights so far and will continue to do so throughout the season.

Lots of people talk about the innovation of the overlapping centre-back, a tactic which Liverpool’s back four will have to be wary of going into Saturday’s fixture. However, the Blades did get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League One Sunderland on Wednesday, so maybe not as wary as one may think!

Team news

Although there was rumour of his return this week, Klopp’s men are still without their goalkeeping gargantuan Alisson and with the form of Adrian, have no pressure to force a return. As ideal a situation as the German could imagine, and the returns of Sadio Mane and Divock Origi from knocks could bolster their attacking options. Still expect eleven changes.

The Blades have very few injury issues, with David McGoldrick the only man likely to miss out through a Groin injury. Talisman Billy Sharp is still serving a suspension after his sending off against Southampton.

Wilder warns of awe-struck anguish

“I don’t want our players to look at them all starry-eyed.

“Of course, playing the best team in Europe at Bramall Lane was always going to be one of the fixtures to look forward to when we got promoted back to the Premier League.

“It’s a reward for the supporters, who have stuck with us through thick and thin, and the challenge for us now is to make sure this becomes a regular fixture in the Premier League.

“But I don’t want the players speaking to their players before and, ‘can I swap shirts and any chance of signing this?’. And they won’t.”

Klopp praises potential returnee Alisson

“’Ali’ is in a good way. He did on Thursday, not with us but with the goalie coaches, a full session, so he’s getting closer and closer. We will see, now we have to talk to the medical department,

“So Ali looks like he is close but the final word is with the medical department obviously, because we have to ask how it is exactly and that’s it.

“Ali is not in contention for tomorrow, it looks like maybe he can train with the team maybe from Sunday on. We don’t know 100 per cent, but he’s really close.”