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Premier League | Gameweek 6
Oct 24, 2020 at 8pm UK
Anfield
Sheffield United logo

Liverpool
2 - 1
Sheff Utd

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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.

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Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck pictured in September 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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