Virgil van Dijk's goal was his first of the season for Liverpool
Liverpool spoiled Chris Wilder's Bramall Lane homecoming to remain hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Wilder, who led Sheffield United to two promotions in a five-year reign before an unceremonious departure in 2021, received a raucous reaction from the Blades faithful on his return to the dugout.
However, Virgil van Dijk swept home a side-footed volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner to quell the vociferous home support despite Blades appeals he had fouled Anel Ahmedhodzic prior to doing so.
There was also an element of controversy about the Reds' second goal in stoppage time as Darwin Nunez's hefty challenge on Jayden Bogle was deemed fair in the build-up to Dominik Szoboszlai's cool finish.
Liverpool, beaten just once in the league this season when their nine men lost in stoppage time at Tottenham, move back to within two points of the table-topping Gunners.
The Blades, meanwhile, remain bottom, four points from safety, after a 12th loss in 15 league games, although Wilder will take heart from a competitive performance in defeat against the second-placed Reds.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
- Sheff UtdSheffield UnitedSheffield UnitedLiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool
Sheffield UnitedStarting XIAvgSquad number18Player nameFoderinghamAverage rating
5.43
12345678910Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzicAverage rating
5.22
12345678910Squad number19Player nameRobinsonAverage rating
5.21
12345678910Squad number5Player nameTrustyAverage rating
5.13
12345678910Squad number20Player nameBogleAverage rating
5.01
12345678910Squad number8Player nameHamerAverage rating
5.48
12345678910Squad number21Player nameVinicius SouzaAverage rating
5.15
12345678910Squad number35Player nameBrooksAverage rating
5.12
12345678910Squad number28Player nameMcAteeAverage rating
5.40
12345678910Squad number10Player nameArcherAverage rating
5.40
12345678910Squad number32Player nameOsulaAverage rating
5.17
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number3Player nameLoweAverage rating
4.64
12345678910Squad number4Player nameFleckAverage rating
5.08
12345678910Squad number11Player nameTraoréAverage rating
4.81
12345678910Squad number16Player nameNorwoodAverage rating
5.02
12345678910Share your Sheff Utd player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share linkLiverpoolStarting XIAvgSquad number62Player nameKelleherAverage rating
7.22
12345678910Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
7.26
12345678910Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating
7.05
12345678910Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating
7.83
12345678910Squad number2Player nameGomezAverage rating
6.71
12345678910Squad number8Player nameSzoboszlaiAverage rating
7.63
12345678910Squad number3Player nameEndoAverage rating
7.35
12345678910Squad number10Player nameMac AllisterAverage rating
7.36
12345678910Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating
7.31
12345678910Squad number18Player nameGakpoAverage rating
7.13
12345678910Squad number7Player nameDíazAverage rating
7.23
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number9Player nameNúñezAverage rating
7.47
12345678910Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
6.81
12345678910Squad number19Player nameElliottAverage rating
7.13
12345678910Squad number38Player nameGravenberchAverage rating
7.07
12345678910Share your Liverpool player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share link
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSheff Utd
Formation 3-4-2-1
18Foderingham15Ahmedhodzic19Robinson5Trusty20Bogle8Hamer21de Souza Costa35Brooks28McAtee10Archer32Osula
- 18Foderingham15Ahmedhodzic19Robinson5TrustySubstituted forLoweat 88'minutes20BogleBooked at 90mins8Hamer21de Souza CostaSubstituted forNorwoodat 86'minutesBooked at 90mins35BrooksSubstituted forFleckat 74'minutes28McAtee10Archer32OsulaSubstituted forTraoréat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Davies3Lowe4Fleck11Traoré14Thomas16Norwood25Ben Slimane27Larouci38Seriki
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
62Kelleher66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk2Gomez8Szoboszlai3Endo10Mac Allister11Salah18Gakpo7Díaz
- 62Kelleher66Alexander-Arnold5KonatéBooked at 62mins4van Dijk2Gomez8Szoboszlai3EndoBooked at 34mins10Mac AllisterSubstituted forJonesat 59'minutes11SalahSubstituted forElliottat 67'minutes18GakpoSubstituted forGravenberchat 86'minutes7DíazSubstituted forNúñezat 67'minutesBooked at 84mins
Substitutes
- 9Núñez13Adrián17Jones19Elliott21Tsimikas38Gravenberch45Pitaluga78Quansah84Bradley
Referee:Simon HooperAttendance:31,406Match StatsHome TeamSheff UtdAway TeamLiverpoolPossessionHome24%Away76%ShotsHome6Away15Shots on TargetHome1Away8CornersHome2Away12FoulsHome12Away8Live Text Post update
Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Liverpool 2.
90'+8'Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Liverpool 2.
90'+7'Post update
Foul by Curtis Jones (Liverpool).
90'+7'Post update
John Fleck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+7'Post update
Attempt missed. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by John Fleck with a through ball.
90'+5'Booking
Jayden Bogle (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
90'+4'goalGoal!
Goal! Sheffield United 0, Liverpool 2. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Darwin Núñez.
90'+1'Post update
Offside, Liverpool. Darwin Núñez is caught offside.
90'Booking
Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'Post update
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'Post update
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United).
89'Post update
Attempt missed. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
89'Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ibrahima Konaté.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Max Lowe replaces Auston Trusty.
87'Post update
Wataru Endo (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Cameron Archer (Sheffield United).
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James McAtee.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Ryan Gravenberch replaces Cody Gakpo.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Oliver Norwood replaces Vinicius Souza.
85'Post update
Foul by Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool).
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Source: bbc.com