Kick-off: 2000, 24/10/2020
Stadium: Anfield
TV: Sky Sports Box Office
Sheffield United failed to score in two Premier League games against Liverpool last season but we’re backing them to fare better up front at Anfield on Saturday night.
The Reds look very vulnerable at the back without colossal centre-half Virgil Van Dijk and first-choice keeper Alisson and the Blades can hopefully take advantage.
Punters can get 19/20 for both teams to hit the back of the net at least once and that is our opening Liverpool vs Sheff Utd prediction.
A Look At Liverpool’s Betting Odds
Liverpool put a 7-2 thumping at Aston Villa behind them when drawing 2-2 with Everton in a highly-entertaining Merseyside derby, which they appeared to have won before Jordan Henderson’s stoppage-time effort was chalked off by VAR.
An untested centre-back pairing of Fabinho and Joe Gomez then helped the Reds to a 1-0 away win over Ajax in their Champions League opener.
Jurgen Klopp commented: “This combination had not played together so they need to get used to each other, the verbal commands, what you need to say to the midfield.
“It was a good performance but there is a lot to improve, that is good. It was absolutely good and we’d like it to carry on.”
However, Ajax had enough chances to at least earn a point from that contest and the new-look Liverpool defence still has to prove its worth in our book.
Stand-in keeper Adrian denied Quincy Promes from close range, Fabinho acrobatically cleared Dusan Tadic’s effort off the line and Davy Klaassen hit the inside of the post.
There were further injury concerns up front, with Sadio Mane putting on an ice pack after being substituted.
We’re keen to take the Reds on at this time, so 11/10 for the Blades with two goals start on the handicap list catches the eye from the Liverpool vs Sheff Utd odds.
Last Liverpool line-up: Adrian, Gomez, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Jones, Firmino, Mane, Salah.
A Look At Sheffield United’s Betting Odds
United started the season slowly, failing to score in losses to Wolves, Aston Villa and Leeds, but have shown some more encouraging signs in their last couple of games.
The Blades were only beaten 2-1 at Arsenal and dominated for long periods of a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Bramall Lane.
Chris Wilder said: “It’s a struggle at the minute and you can see that. It’s tough and it’s tough to watch at times.
“But we are a really tight group and we will stick together and fight our way out of it.”
Wilder insisted there are “no free hits or easy games” in the Premier League, but this is a chance for his team to play with freedom in a match where little is expected of them and they have nothing to lose.
Rhian Brewster would no doubt love to haunt his former club following a £23.5million summer switch and certainly looked a hot prospect when on loan at Swansea last term, so 333/100 for him to score at any time appeals.
In a season featuring numerous surprise results so far, let’s also add 80/1 for Brewster to break the deadlock in a 1-1 draw to our Liverpool vs Sheff Utd betting tips.
Last Sheff Utd line-up: Ramsdale, Baldock, Stevens, Basham, Egan, Lowe, Lundstram, Berge, Norwood, McBurnie, McGoldrick.
Additional stats
Last result:
Ajax 0-1 LIVERPOOL – Nicolas Tagliafico (og)
SHEFF UTD 1-1 Fulham – Billy Sharp (pen)
Head-to-head: Liverpool 2-0 Sheff Utd, Sheff Utd 0-1 Liverpool
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