Sheffield United 0 - 2 Liverpool

Reds: Jones 48’, Firmino 64’

Pre-Match

HA! You thought we had a soft underbelly with captain Jordan Henderson in defense? How about a centerback partnership of Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak shielding Adrian between the sticks? Can this season end already? Fuck me.

First Half

With about 10 minutes played, Roberto Firmino manages to both show why he’s completely un-droppable, and also completely frustrating in front of goal. His pressing, and link-up play looks on point again, but he spurns a massive chance when through on goal.

At the other end of the pitch, Adrian has come up with a few decent saves early. So, that’s good.

Once again, Liverpool could just do with a bounce going their way. Curtis Jones does brilliantly to get on the end of a cross, but a poor first touch takes it just away from him and into the path of the keeper.

With just more than a half an hour on the clock, Liverpool have registered four shots—four good shots—on target, but it’s still scoreless. However, it is the first time in a long time where it feels like the goal is coming.

Kabak and Liverpool get let off the hook! The emergency signing poked home an own goal, but thankfully McBurnie was offside.

Liverpool put in a good first half. But once again, the lads were wasteful in front of goal. Firmino, Salah, Jones, Wijnaldum, and Alexander-Arnold all had really good efforts that just could beat the keeper. Still, five shots on target. You can’t ask much more going forward. Other than, you know, scoring.

Second Half

GOAL! It looked for all the world like the ball went out, but Trent just kept it in and picked out Curt Jones, wide open near the penalty spot. Jones finishes leaves no doubt with his finish, hitting it hard and low into the far corner.

A moment later Mané nearly makes it 2-0, but the Senegalese striker was a full yard offside. Unlucky.

In the 10 or minutes since Mané’s not-a-goal, Sheffield United have come out of their shell, showing the most attacking ambition of the match. Liverpool are a little bit on the back foot at the moment.

GOAL!! It’s Bobby Firimino! He does brilliant with some link-up play around the box. Sadio Mané is definitely fouled in the build up, but Bobby picks up the scraps, dribbles past a defender, fires off a shot, and it’s deflected up and over the keeper. Still counts!

With about fifteen minutes left to play, Klopp makes his first sub: James Milner on for Thiago. A few minutes later Naby Keita comes on for Jones.

Final Thoughts

It started out as another one of “those nights.” But tonight was not like so many other recent matches and Liverpool got the result they thoroughly deserved. Three points and a clean sheet will do this team a world of good. And it creates a massive showdown with Chelsea on Thursday.