Sheffield United Injuries “Bigger Loss Than Van Dijk” Says Manager Wilder

Following a narrow victory over Ajax in the Champions League, one where they weren’t always the better side, Liverpool return to Premier League action on the weekend and take on a Sheffield United side with their own injury concerns.

The Reds may be certain to be without Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, with Joël Matip also a question mark, but Blades boss Chris Wilder has three missing stars of his own and thinks that given the two clubs’ standings theirs will be the tougher to overcome.

“Us losing these three players is, I’d say, a bigger loss than losing Van Dijk, relatively,” Wilder said today as he prepared for Saturday’s league match. “They still have world-class players and an academy that produces players all the time.”

Wilder, who also pointed to the quality of Liverpool’s attack, their “three at the top of the pitch,” that can help them overcome any injury issues at the back. Sheffield are currently without defender Jack O’Connell, midfielder John Fleck, and forward Lys Mousset.

However, those injuries and that he’s now had some time to settle means that it is likely former Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster will be given a start against his former club on Sunday in the 8PM BST Premier League kickoff.

After flirting with the European places last season as a newly promoted side, the start of the 2020-21 season has seen Sheffield struggle massively, and the Blades currently sit in 19th place with just one point, only ahead of Fulham on goal differential.