Liverpool vs Sheffield United

Anfield forms the backdrop for a lopsided Premier League encounter between table-topping Liverpool and rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Liverpool took advantage of a 0-0 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal to move two points clear at the Premier League’s summit with a come-from-behind 2-1 home triumph against Brighton at the weekend. In turn, the Reds have strengthened their outstanding home record of just one loss from their last 39 top-flight games at Anfield (W32, D6). Another straightforward triumph is on the cards, considering Jurgen Klopp’s troops have thumped Sheffield United in their last six H2Hs via an aggregate score of 13-1. Nothing less will do for the 19-time Premier League champions as they gear up for a crunch encounter against Manchester United next weekend, seeking revenge for a 4-3 extra-time loss in the FA Cup quarter-finals on the stroke of March’s international break.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s survival hopes took a bad beat at the weekend as they squandered a two-goal cushion in a goal-glutted 3-3 home draw against Fulham, extending their winless league run to five outings (D2, L3). United’s well-documented defensive woes have come to the fore lately, with the division’s worst backline (77 goals conceded) capitulating 11 times across their last three Premier League matches. That paints a bleak picture for the worst top-flight travelers (W1, D3, L10), though they’ve shown signs of improvement in their recent away games, avoiding defeat twice in their last three (W1, D1). Despite lamenting an underwhelming scoring ratio of 0.85 goals per Premier League trip, the Blades have netted in four of their five most recent league fixtures outside Bramall Lane.