Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has warned Liverpool he wants to make life as difficult as possible when they arrive at Bramall Lane on Saturday. The Blades line up against the European champions this weekend in the most high-profile fixture they have staged at home in several years.
The Reds will make the relatively short trip across to South Yorkshire sitting at the top of the Premier League table after six wins out of six, while Jurgen Klopp’s men haven’t lost a league game since January.
The Merseysiders will be looking for a 16th straight top-flight victory and Wilder admits his team are facing a monumental challenge.
Related: Guardiola Clears Up Arteta Confusion
United have adapted quickly to life back in the Premier League, though, and claimed their first away win of the season when beating Everton 2-0 last weekend, moving them up to 10th.
They followed that impressive win up with a shock home loss to Sunderland in the Carabao Cup third round and Wilder indicated after that game, for which he made 10 changes, he would likely revert to the same side that won at
Everton after his fringe players had failed to take their chance.
The ex-Oxford and Northampton boss says his team will need all the help they can get to complete a Merseyside double, calling on the fans to raise the noise level inside Bramall Lane, while also warning his players not to get “starry-eyed” when lining up in the tunnel.
Despite the odds being stacked against his team, Wilder retains faith his players can get the job done. “We want to make it as uncomfortable for them as possible,” he said.
“Everybody will have this down as an away win and that’s fine, with them running Manchester City in the Premier League and then winning the Champions League. We have to look at ways, small ways, that we can hurt them and that’s what we’ll do.”
Wilder has revealed David McGoldrick is a doubt for the weekend due to a groin injury but otherwise he has a fully-fit squad to choose from. It is expected Oli McBurnie will take McGoldrick’s place in the team and partner Callum Robinson up front.
