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Thursday 2 January 2020 18:53, UK
Image:James Milner was a late substitute against Wolves and could feature against Sheffield United
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Liverpool vs Sheffield United in the Premier League on Thursday (kick-off 8pm).
Team news
Liverpool have no fresh fitness concerns ahead of the Anfield clash, with Jurgen Klopp to select from the same squad of players that edged Wolves last time out.
Image:Xherdan Shaqiri remains sidelined for Liverpool
James Milner could come in if Klopp decides to rotate, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabinho and Dejan Lovren remain unavailable.
Takumi Minamino's switch from Red Bull Salzburg was ratified on January 1 but the Japan international is not eligible.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says new signing Takumi Minamino's adaptability means he will feature for the side sooner rather than later - but also urges patience with him
Sheffield United will monitor midfielder John Lundstram in the run-up to kick-off. Lundstram, a boyhood Reds fan, missed the defeat to Manchester City with an ankle injury but trained on New Year's Eve, and could come back in for Mo Besic.
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Liverpool fan Jack O'Connell will put loyalties aside when he makes his Anfield debut for Sheffield United
Opta stats
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A look at some of the key stats surrounding this week's Premier League action, including Liverpool's game against Sheffield United and Man Utd's trip to Arsenal
Liverpool won the reverse fixture against Sheffield United 1-0, and are looking to do the league double over the Blades for the first time since the 1990-91 campaign.
Sheffield United have won just one of their last 13 away games against Liverpool in all competitions (D1 L11), picking up a 2-1 win in the Premier League in April 1994.
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have won all 11 of their home league games against promoted sides by an aggregate score of 33-4. The Reds are unbeaten in their last 26 such games at Anfield since losing 1-2 against Blackpool in October 2010 under Roy Hodgson (W21 D5).
Liverpool have won their first league game in just one of the last five calendar years (D2 L2). They lost their first league game of 2019 against Man City, their only Premier League defeat of 2018-19.
Sheffield United beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park earlier this season - they've not won away against both Merseyside clubs in the same league campaign since 1965-66, a season that saw Liverpool win the league and Everton win the FA Cup.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool's 1-0 win over Wolves
Liverpool are looking to keep five consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since September 2007 under Rafael Benitez.
In Premier League history, only three newly-promoted teams have won away from home against a team starting the day top of the table - Ipswich at Norwich in December 1992, Derby at Man Utd in April 1997 and Hull at Arsenal in September 2008 (P63 W3 D12 L48).
Liverpool's Sadio Mane was involved in 21 goals in his 19 Premier League home games in 2019, scoring 18 and assisting three at Anfield; more than any other Premier League player at home in the calendar year.
No keeper has kept more Premier League clean sheets than Sheffield United's Dean Henderson this season (7). Among all goalkeepers to play more than once this term, only Liverpool's Alisson (one every 185 minutes) has a better minutes per goal conceded ratio than Henderson (one every 107 minutes).
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has won his last 19 Premier League games against English managers, the longest ever such winning run by a manager in the competition's history. The last time he failed to win such a game was at Sam Allardyce's Everton in April 2018 (0-0), while his last such defeat was against Allardyce's Crystal Palace in April 2017 (1-2), which was also Liverpool's last home league defeat.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City's 2-0 win over Sheffield United
Sheffield United tasted their first away defeat of the campaign at Manchester City. Liverpool know how to get the job done at the moment - Anfield is the place to be.
We always mention the front three but the full-backs are such a threat when they get forward and put in some of their deliveries. The signs are promising all over the park, even through midfield and with the rotation.
Sheffield United are only a small group and will have tired legs. The high-press takes a lot out of them and it will be more Liverpool ruthlessness here.
