MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 01:59:13| >> :120:12004:12004:
[monks data]
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 6
Oct 24, 2020 at 8pm UK
Anfield
Sheffield United logo

Liverpool
2 - 1
Sheff Utd

Firmino (41'), Jota (64')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Berge (13' pen.)
Lundstram (3'), Stevens (66'), Berge (86')

Chris Wilder bemoans injury problems ahead of Liverpool clash

Jack O'Connell, Lys Mousset and John Fleck are lengthy absentees for Sheffield United.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder believes the injuries to his key players is a bigger blow than Virgil van Dijk's absence for Liverpool.

The Premier League champions are set to be without their talismanic central defender for a lengthy period after he damaged an anterior cruciate ligament during the Merseyside derby.

Van Dijk requires knee surgery after being clattered by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford last weekend.

However, ahead of the Blades' trip to Anfield to play Liverpool on Saturday, Wilder has injury issues of his own, with Jack O'Connell (knee) likely to be out for the rest of the season and Lys Mousset (toe) and John Fleck (back) several weeks away from making a return.

Burnley v Sheffield United – Carabao Cup – Second Round – Turf Moor
Chris Wilder has injury problems at Sheffield United (Peter Powell/PA)

Wilder revealed when he expects striker Mousset to step up his recovery, before putting the two club's injury problems into perspective.

"We are hoping to get Lys back on the grass, that's about six to eight weeks away, while John Fleck will hopefully be back next month," said the Blades boss.

"There's three big players missing for us, with Jack O'Connell probably out for the season too, but it's all relative. There are always players that are going to be out injured, and you just have to get on with it and cope as best you can.

Sheffield United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League – Bramall Lane
Jack O'Connell, right, is a long-term absentee (PA)

"But us losing O'Connell, Fleck and Mousett are huge blows for us and I would say bigger blows to us (than) what Van Dijk is to Liverpool, in my opinion, relatively, as we look as a football club.

"We all have to go through these situations but there are still some world class players (at Liverpool) and though they have lost one world class player for a lengthy period of time, they have other world class players to come in.

"We all want our best and most consistent team out there as injuries affects consistency and rhythm, it certainly has for us, and it doesn't make the task any easier. Their performance levels didn't dip last night (in the Champions League against Ajax) and I'm not expecting it to on Saturday."

Sheffield United v Fulham – Premier League – Bramall Lane
Rhian Brewster, pictured here coming on against Fulham, is in contention for his first Blades start (Gareth Copley/PA)

Record signing Rhian Brewster could make his full debut for Sheffield United against his former club.

The 20-year-old striker, who joined the Blades earlier this month in a deal that could be worth up to £23million, made his first appearance for Wilder's side as a second-half substitute in the draw with Fulham.

Max Lowe had to be withdrawn with a head injury in that game and the Blades are awaiting a doctor's report before deciding if he travels to Merseyside.

ID:419325: cacheID:419325:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8444:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck pictured in September 2020
Read Next:
Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck to miss up to six weeks with back injury
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!