Deadbat
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Pod links below and match report beneath ….
At the home of the Premier League Champions, it was always going to be a difficult ask for the Blades to get anything and so it proved as they were beaten by Liverpool but United gave a much better performance than maybe they have done all season and were only just edged out having led at Anfield in the first half. United did create a number of chances and with more composure and better concentration at the other end, could easily have taken something from the game.
United tweaked their side with a first start for Rhian Brewster up top with McBurnie and Ampadu got the nod over Jack Robinson. In midfield Norwood was out again and back in came Ben Osborn as United looked for a formula to get some points on the board.
Liverpool had Alison back in goal but were without the long-term casualty Virgil Van Dijk. Jota got a start in midfield in a very attacking line up spearheaded by the trio of Mane, Salah and Firmino.
United were playing in a green and gold strip and started on the attack but McBurnie mis controlled after good work from Berge. However, Liverpool were almost ahead on their first attack as a ball round the corner saw Mane in as Ramsdale oddly decided to come off his line but as the ball was slipped towards goal, Egan got back to clear off the line.
Lundstram was booked for a wild, stupid tackle on only 2 minutes and from its Alexander Arnold nearly embarrassed Ramsdale whose positioning was poor again well off his line. Fortunately, he got back and was able to tip over.
United tried to move forward after being penned in early and slowly started to see more of the ball but Ampadu overhit his pass. However, after a few minutes of improvements, a moment of controversy arrived. McBurnie was tripped clearly by Fabinho but after the ball went out, the decision was whether it was in or outside the box. It seemed it may have been just outside on first glance (of course on the line is a penalty) but maybe VAR had better angles and another replay showed that Fabinho’s heel was on the line and after a lengthy delay, the penalty was given.
After Lundstram missed one and with no Sharp or Norwood starting, BERGE took responsibility and sent Alison the wrong way to give the Blades a shock lead.
Liverpool tried to hit back and a soft foul on Basham saw Alexander Arnold whip in his trademark free kick but Egan cleared. Jota tried to run though the Blades also but the ex Wolves man was chopped down. Wijnaldum fired over but after this United had an excellent spell. McBurnie won a number of headers and was working very hard to keep the ball up the top of the field. He won another header and then Baldock’s cross appeared to strike Robertson’s hand but maybe VAR thought his arm was in a natural position.
On 20 minutes another good move saw McBurnie in on the angle (although he may have been flagged offside) but his shot was poor and pulled badly wide. Soon after more neat play saw Berge hit a shot that deflected wide. Another effort came when Baldock, who had started the game in superb fashion, hit an angled cross that Osborn met on the full but Alison pushed away.
The next phase saw Liverpool who easily could have been a few goals down, start to come good and knock the ball around better but they did not test United with Basham and Egan making good blocks. A lovely ball behind the back, saw Osborn lost Salah but Egan got his toe in at the last moment to send the ball behind.
United still kept trying to attack though and after a soft appeal from McBurnie who went down too easily on a headed chance, Berge may have had an even better appeal for a penalty than the one given when he was tripped by Jota but VAR were not going to give United two penalties at the Kop end.
On 40 minutes, Liverpool were level as Henderson sent over a super whipped cross, Mane got away from his man to powerfully head goalward and Ramsdale made a good reaction save but the power was such he could not divert it away and no United players reacted and FIRMINO knocked it home under no pressure. A few United players appealed for offside but it was clearly on in both parts of the move.
Straight after it was nearly 2-1, but like with the McBurnie chance, it was offside as he went through but shot at Ramsdale who saved well. United finished the half on the attack with Baldock again prominent on the ball and a few things did not drop.
United went in level and would have been delighted with how they performed and maybe a touch disappointed not to be leading on the chances they created and how long they had led and had a number of appeals for other penalties outside the one they got.
The second half saw Baldock have an early chance but it deflected wide – it may not have been going in anyway but the corner came to nothing. Liverpool came forward with their first attack but Robertson’s shot was blocked out before Osborn and Stevens both mis controlled and Liverpool won two corners with the final one seeing Salah curl wide from the edge of the box. The same man nearly was in on the angle but he took too long and Liverpool were perhaps guilty of trying to walk it in.
Burke came on for Brewster who had been disappointing in his first start and instantly was involved nearly getting in on Alison’s poor touch and then speeding past Fabinho before his shot on the angle was saved by the keeper.
On the hour, Liverpool thought they had taken the lead as a great ball by Alexander Arnold saw Salah take a touch and volley home superbly but the replays showed he was offside and the goal was disallowed.
However, the rest bite was brief for the Blades the goal came soon after. Like the first goal, United will have been disappointed not to stop it at source and then lost the header when it came over.
Mane worked space down the right and was not closed down and sent over a dangerous cross and JOTA was able to get away from Stevens and head home. United would not have been happy to concede a relatively basic goal and the Irish defender knew he should have done much better. Stevens then was booked for a rash tackle and looked to have lost his head a bit after doing well first half.
Liverpool started to dominate possession after this for a period and United struggled with Mane, Salah and Alexander Arnold to the fore. Still, United had a chance when Berge came inside and Basham had a shot saved from Alison. McGoldrick came on for Lundstram with 15 minutes to play and the sub nearly had an impact as he curled an effort just over. United now were having a better spell and Baldock and Basham combined before the latter’s pirouette would not have gained him high marks on Strictly and the home side broke.
Liverpool had another spell of play but could not find the vital ball before Osborn at the other end had no support. Salah should have made the game safe as he rolled Egan and was on but his dink over Ramsdale hit the post and came straight back to the keeper. Ampadu shot over the bar before Milner came on for Jota and then Minamino for Firmino.
United were not finished as the game became stretched and Stevens had a shot blocked before Berge took a booking for a cynical foul as Liverpool threatened to break
Three minutes of stoppage time were played and United kept attacking and had a final chance when McBurnie headed down and Burke hit a shot over the bar when well placed. The final whistle went and it was another defeat but a much more encouraging performance from the Blades despite the loss.
United – It was so much better than a week ago. We drew v Fulham but I feel much better about us after today. First half we were great. We had a rocky start and they had two chances but then after that we found our feet and kept a good shape. We had a number of chances, won a penalty and could have had another. McBurnie (maybe offside) and Osborn had chances. Berge was a constant threat and McBurnie won lots of headers and we looked like the Wilder United of old – getting men forward and throwing people into the box. We easily could have had another goal actually. Liverpool showed flashes but we kept them at arm’s length and they did not threaten much at all. Not sure Ramsdale had much to do after those two early moments of poor positioning but then out of nothing Salah nearly got in and soon after they score. It was a great cross and Liverpool are great at crossing the ball but we need to do better on the header. Ramsdale did about as well as he could and our players stand around. After this you feared for us and even though we were nowhere near as good 2nd half, they did not rip us apart but another poor goal just after the let off from the offside, was our undoing again. Stevens and Baldock both have to do better to at least put their men off on the header and the cross. After this again I thought they may score quite a few more but it never happened. They hit the post but did not have tons of chances and we had maybe more if not clear ones – McGoldrick, Basham and then Burke all had half chances. We got into some great areas and played some nice composed stuff but ultimately as good as that was, the final bit was poor again. The difference between the two sides in crossing was stark. I thought in general play we actually matched them for periods albeit their quality took over for a spell 2nd half.
On another day we score another goal at least and could have easily drawn. The stats don’t show it but it felt like we had as many chances as they did throughout the game and were right in the game throughout. I felt it was a committed, organised and brave performance with some quality but maybe just where it counts, we did not quite prove it which led to the defeat. I cannot fault us too much today as we gave a pretty good performance against the Champions and the team that will probably go on and win it again, I feel.
We just looked more like our old self. The way we pressed, harried, won loose balls and also played some decent stuff when we had it. It was a more confident performance and one we can take heart from.
I felt the new line up worked and Ampadu gave us some legs/mobility. Osborn did ok and Stevens did at left centre back first half but then struggled second half. The other two centre backs were really good, Egan only got beat once I think and the midfield worked hard especially first half. They saw a fair bit of the ball too. Berge was excellent most of the game and a real threat. I also thought that is the best McBurnie has played for ages and worked so hard for the team. Brewster looked very nervous and looked like a raw kid. He has to do much better than that and looked way off the pace.
One major worry is we are conceding constantly from crosses and headers. Villa, Wolves, Leeds and now this one. It is not good enough and if we don’t switch on more, then we are going to get relegated. It is a major concern as for all the good shape, tackles, blocks and foot ins we saw today, switching off at the vital times keeps on costing us. A great side like Liverpool and the two goals they score are headers (well the first was a rebound from one) rather than brilliant individual goals.
We now have City next week and that will be tough. Oddly, I am more concerned about a team like them that can pass you apart – Liverpool more direct. However, West Ham, Leicester and others have given them problems so you never know. If we play like we did today then we might get something but we have to do better in the two final thirds as whoever we play, even if we do ok and show improvements like we did today, we won’t be in this league unless we are better at composure attacking wise and concentration defending wise. We have still only scored one goal in open play and rarely look like scoring despite once again getting in good areas. We will have to score more goals sooner or later or it is going to be a relegation season and that is the harsh truth.
At the home of the Premier League Champions, it was always going to be a difficult ask for the Blades to get anything and so it proved as they were beaten by Liverpool but United gave a much better performance than maybe they have done all season and were only just edged out having led at Anfield in the first half. United did create a number of chances and with more composure and better concentration at the other end, could easily have taken something from the game.
United tweaked their side with a first start for Rhian Brewster up top with McBurnie and Ampadu got the nod over Jack Robinson. In midfield Norwood was out again and back in came Ben Osborn as United looked for a formula to get some points on the board.
Liverpool had Alison back in goal but were without the long-term casualty Virgil Van Dijk. Jota got a start in midfield in a very attacking line up spearheaded by the trio of Mane, Salah and Firmino.
United were playing in a green and gold strip and started on the attack but McBurnie mis controlled after good work from Berge. However, Liverpool were almost ahead on their first attack as a ball round the corner saw Mane in as Ramsdale oddly decided to come off his line but as the ball was slipped towards goal, Egan got back to clear off the line.
Lundstram was booked for a wild, stupid tackle on only 2 minutes and from its Alexander Arnold nearly embarrassed Ramsdale whose positioning was poor again well off his line. Fortunately, he got back and was able to tip over.
United tried to move forward after being penned in early and slowly started to see more of the ball but Ampadu overhit his pass. However, after a few minutes of improvements, a moment of controversy arrived. McBurnie was tripped clearly by Fabinho but after the ball went out, the decision was whether it was in or outside the box. It seemed it may have been just outside on first glance (of course on the line is a penalty) but maybe VAR had better angles and another replay showed that Fabinho’s heel was on the line and after a lengthy delay, the penalty was given.
After Lundstram missed one and with no Sharp or Norwood starting, BERGE took responsibility and sent Alison the wrong way to give the Blades a shock lead.
Liverpool tried to hit back and a soft foul on Basham saw Alexander Arnold whip in his trademark free kick but Egan cleared. Jota tried to run though the Blades also but the ex Wolves man was chopped down. Wijnaldum fired over but after this United had an excellent spell. McBurnie won a number of headers and was working very hard to keep the ball up the top of the field. He won another header and then Baldock’s cross appeared to strike Robertson’s hand but maybe VAR thought his arm was in a natural position.
On 20 minutes another good move saw McBurnie in on the angle (although he may have been flagged offside) but his shot was poor and pulled badly wide. Soon after more neat play saw Berge hit a shot that deflected wide. Another effort came when Baldock, who had started the game in superb fashion, hit an angled cross that Osborn met on the full but Alison pushed away.
The next phase saw Liverpool who easily could have been a few goals down, start to come good and knock the ball around better but they did not test United with Basham and Egan making good blocks. A lovely ball behind the back, saw Osborn lost Salah but Egan got his toe in at the last moment to send the ball behind.
United still kept trying to attack though and after a soft appeal from McBurnie who went down too easily on a headed chance, Berge may have had an even better appeal for a penalty than the one given when he was tripped by Jota but VAR were not going to give United two penalties at the Kop end.
On 40 minutes, Liverpool were level as Henderson sent over a super whipped cross, Mane got away from his man to powerfully head goalward and Ramsdale made a good reaction save but the power was such he could not divert it away and no United players reacted and FIRMINO knocked it home under no pressure. A few United players appealed for offside but it was clearly on in both parts of the move.
Straight after it was nearly 2-1, but like with the McBurnie chance, it was offside as he went through but shot at Ramsdale who saved well. United finished the half on the attack with Baldock again prominent on the ball and a few things did not drop.
United went in level and would have been delighted with how they performed and maybe a touch disappointed not to be leading on the chances they created and how long they had led and had a number of appeals for other penalties outside the one they got.
The second half saw Baldock have an early chance but it deflected wide – it may not have been going in anyway but the corner came to nothing. Liverpool came forward with their first attack but Robertson’s shot was blocked out before Osborn and Stevens both mis controlled and Liverpool won two corners with the final one seeing Salah curl wide from the edge of the box. The same man nearly was in on the angle but he took too long and Liverpool were perhaps guilty of trying to walk it in.
Burke came on for Brewster who had been disappointing in his first start and instantly was involved nearly getting in on Alison’s poor touch and then speeding past Fabinho before his shot on the angle was saved by the keeper.
On the hour, Liverpool thought they had taken the lead as a great ball by Alexander Arnold saw Salah take a touch and volley home superbly but the replays showed he was offside and the goal was disallowed.
However, the rest bite was brief for the Blades the goal came soon after. Like the first goal, United will have been disappointed not to stop it at source and then lost the header when it came over.
Mane worked space down the right and was not closed down and sent over a dangerous cross and JOTA was able to get away from Stevens and head home. United would not have been happy to concede a relatively basic goal and the Irish defender knew he should have done much better. Stevens then was booked for a rash tackle and looked to have lost his head a bit after doing well first half.
Liverpool started to dominate possession after this for a period and United struggled with Mane, Salah and Alexander Arnold to the fore. Still, United had a chance when Berge came inside and Basham had a shot saved from Alison. McGoldrick came on for Lundstram with 15 minutes to play and the sub nearly had an impact as he curled an effort just over. United now were having a better spell and Baldock and Basham combined before the latter’s pirouette would not have gained him high marks on Strictly and the home side broke.
Liverpool had another spell of play but could not find the vital ball before Osborn at the other end had no support. Salah should have made the game safe as he rolled Egan and was on but his dink over Ramsdale hit the post and came straight back to the keeper. Ampadu shot over the bar before Milner came on for Jota and then Minamino for Firmino.
United were not finished as the game became stretched and Stevens had a shot blocked before Berge took a booking for a cynical foul as Liverpool threatened to break
Three minutes of stoppage time were played and United kept attacking and had a final chance when McBurnie headed down and Burke hit a shot over the bar when well placed. The final whistle went and it was another defeat but a much more encouraging performance from the Blades despite the loss.
United – It was so much better than a week ago. We drew v Fulham but I feel much better about us after today. First half we were great. We had a rocky start and they had two chances but then after that we found our feet and kept a good shape. We had a number of chances, won a penalty and could have had another. McBurnie (maybe offside) and Osborn had chances. Berge was a constant threat and McBurnie won lots of headers and we looked like the Wilder United of old – getting men forward and throwing people into the box. We easily could have had another goal actually. Liverpool showed flashes but we kept them at arm’s length and they did not threaten much at all. Not sure Ramsdale had much to do after those two early moments of poor positioning but then out of nothing Salah nearly got in and soon after they score. It was a great cross and Liverpool are great at crossing the ball but we need to do better on the header. Ramsdale did about as well as he could and our players stand around. After this you feared for us and even though we were nowhere near as good 2nd half, they did not rip us apart but another poor goal just after the let off from the offside, was our undoing again. Stevens and Baldock both have to do better to at least put their men off on the header and the cross. After this again I thought they may score quite a few more but it never happened. They hit the post but did not have tons of chances and we had maybe more if not clear ones – McGoldrick, Basham and then Burke all had half chances. We got into some great areas and played some nice composed stuff but ultimately as good as that was, the final bit was poor again. The difference between the two sides in crossing was stark. I thought in general play we actually matched them for periods albeit their quality took over for a spell 2nd half.
On another day we score another goal at least and could have easily drawn. The stats don’t show it but it felt like we had as many chances as they did throughout the game and were right in the game throughout. I felt it was a committed, organised and brave performance with some quality but maybe just where it counts, we did not quite prove it which led to the defeat. I cannot fault us too much today as we gave a pretty good performance against the Champions and the team that will probably go on and win it again, I feel.
We just looked more like our old self. The way we pressed, harried, won loose balls and also played some decent stuff when we had it. It was a more confident performance and one we can take heart from.
I felt the new line up worked and Ampadu gave us some legs/mobility. Osborn did ok and Stevens did at left centre back first half but then struggled second half. The other two centre backs were really good, Egan only got beat once I think and the midfield worked hard especially first half. They saw a fair bit of the ball too. Berge was excellent most of the game and a real threat. I also thought that is the best McBurnie has played for ages and worked so hard for the team. Brewster looked very nervous and looked like a raw kid. He has to do much better than that and looked way off the pace.
One major worry is we are conceding constantly from crosses and headers. Villa, Wolves, Leeds and now this one. It is not good enough and if we don’t switch on more, then we are going to get relegated. It is a major concern as for all the good shape, tackles, blocks and foot ins we saw today, switching off at the vital times keeps on costing us. A great side like Liverpool and the two goals they score are headers (well the first was a rebound from one) rather than brilliant individual goals.
We now have City next week and that will be tough. Oddly, I am more concerned about a team like them that can pass you apart – Liverpool more direct. However, West Ham, Leicester and others have given them problems so you never know. If we play like we did today then we might get something but we have to do better in the two final thirds as whoever we play, even if we do ok and show improvements like we did today, we won’t be in this league unless we are better at composure attacking wise and concentration defending wise. We have still only scored one goal in open play and rarely look like scoring despite once again getting in good areas. We will have to score more goals sooner or later or it is going to be a relegation season and that is the harsh truth.