Deadbat
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Chris Wilder was back at the Lane under the lights as giants Liverpool came to town. It was a much more ‘United’ performance as the team competed and were competitive for much of the game. In the end goals from Virgil van Dijk in the first half from a corner and then a late second from Dominik Szoboszlai saw the visitors take the spoils. Both goals were looked at by VAR, but the verdict went to the away side despite the second goal seemingly a clear foul in the build-up. The Blades did have chances, particularly with the game still at 0-0 with McAtee and Archer both missing good opportunities.
The flashlights before kick-off were aimed at the tunnel as Wilder emerged and saluted the crowd as he was announced. Wilder made changes and gave starts to youngsters Brooks and Osula. Skipper for the night was Anel Ahmedhodzic. In form Liverpool had a powerful attacking line up spearheaded by Mo Salah. The atmosphere was bristling as the game kicked off and early on, a fired-up home side were able to win tackles and challenges and show a good level of organisation. Bogle’s tackle was an early sign of the determination and then Archer got away and was brought down from Endo. Mac Allister was brought down by Hamer and needed treatment before being able to continue. Brooks and Osula’s enthusiasm buoyed the crowd, but Saleh came inside and fired over giving the Blades a warning sign.
Liverpool won a series of corners but United managed to hold firm before Archer broke free and suddenly the home side were in. His pass was deflected into McAtee who was one on one, but Kelleher stood tall to make the save. It was a fantastic opportunity for United to take a shock lead. Liverpool responded and neat football nearly saw them in, but Trusty made a key interception. The Blades picked the pockets of the Reds again and were again on the break, but this time Archer’s shot was blocked after good work from Osula. Foderingham needed treatment after clashing with his own player and Liverpool then had a sustained spell of control and domination but were creating relatively little despite a number of corners.
Van Dijk did have an effort saved from Foderingham and his centre back partner Konate also forced the keeper into a save. Liverpool were now camped in the United half but Endo was booked for bringing his man down as the crowd tried to come to life again. Robinson conceded a corner and from the delivery from Alexander Arnold, VAN DIJK managed to take advantage of the block offs in front of him to smash home as he was left completely unmarked. VAR looked at it but saw nothing clear and obvious despite Ahmedhodzic going down and needing treatment. The same man almost scored his second with another free header from another Alexander Arnold cross but was over this time.
Salah had a weak effort on goal comfortably saved from Foderingham after incisive build up. Hamer was brought down in stoppage time, but McAtee was wasteful and a long way off target on the free kick. Mac Allister’s effort was helped over by Foderingham for yet another corner, but nothing came of this and United managed to see out the 7 extra minutes to remain well in the game.
The second half started as the first finished with Liverpool dominating possession but United were keeping a compact system and trying to fill the gaps. Souza was having his best game for a long time and Bogle and Trusty had both been touch tight on their men to ensure the ball was often funnelled back inside. United struggled to get out much but Archer nicked another ball and was on his way but lacked support. At the other end a cross came over and Salah was inexplicably left unmarked from a corner and his crashing effort seemed goal bound but Foderingham made a superb reaction save to keep it out.
Mac Allister was struggling and had to go off on the hour, replaced by Jones. Konate was booked for bringing down Archer who continued to be positive. Nunez and Elliott replaced Diaz and the disappointing Salah on 68 minutes. United had struggled to create much and were trying to just stay in the game.
A good break saw Brooks and McAtee play in Archer, but he could not get his shot away. At the other end, Foderingham had to make the save as Nunez was in and one on one, but it was a big stop to keep United in it. Osula and Brooks had run their race and on came Traore and Fleck as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Gomez fired over and then Gakpo was stopped from a good tackle from Robinson. Elliott then was fed after Liverpool managed to move the ball around with fluent football, but the effort was blocked. Jones effort then went wide before Nunez was yellow carded for time wasting as he kicked the ball away. United had appeals for a penalty as McAtee came inside and there appeared to be a push but nothing was given by either the referee or VAR.
Norwood and Lowe came on for Souza and Trusty and Robinson tried to launch long throws in from both sides, but a much taller Liverpool side were able to win the headers. Archer had an effort over the bar and the game went into six minutes of stoppage time. Norwood got a yellow card after a few challenges were ignored both ways. In the fourth minutes of stoppage time, Bogle was robbed from Nunez who seemed to go through the back of his man, but he was allowed on and chipped to the back post where SZOBOSLAI was unmarked and clipped home easily to seal the win. Once again VAR felt there was not enough to overturn this decision. The game was now settled and despite the better efforts from the Blades, it was another defeat, and they remain rock bottom.
United – It was much better in the sense we were better organised, more compact and harder to play through. We were competitive and were right in the game. It felt like we were a team again in the sense we were not a soft touch and not just ran through. Liverpool had loads of the ball and won a lot of corners (that we struggled with), but they did not create loads in open play. Wes made a few good saves, but most were in the 2nd half. We actually had a great chance at 0-0 when McAtee could not quite find the corner and Archer had a few opportunities in both halves but could not quite get his shot away. He did work very hard and was lively though. I thought it was the best Souza played for ages and the two wing backs were solid – indeed the whole defence was much better. I was impressed the level of organisation after he only had one day really of training with them. Liverpool did deserve to win overall but 2-0 maybe flattered them in the end even if we did not create much second half – I thought we were right in the game.
I just felt like players seemed to know their roles and what they were meant to do. They kept it simple and worked hard off the ball and tried where they could keep it and move it forward (quicker too) when they had it. Of course, the quality and skill level mean it’s much easier for Liverpool to create than us and we had to rely on stealing the ball and taking advantage of errors, but we did that a few times. We sat in and kept it solid and stayed right in the game. If we had been able to have better options from the bench maybe, we could have thrown more caution to the wind at the end?
The decisions did not go for us tonight. I thought the first was a goal and Anel goes down too easily but the McAtee push would not have been overturned if it had been given. I think it’s one that definitely was in the camp of you have seen given and was silly by the Liverpool player. We did have a few breaks despite Liverpool looking comfortable and you sensed maybe we might nick something, but we lacked physicality and size to profit from Robinson’s long throws and then at the end the second goal goes in to seal it. This seemed a clear foul as despite getting the ball, he went from the back to foul him.
Overall, feel better about how we set up and with limited options/personnel, we had a more professional and solid look to how we played. We had a few chances on the break and were more positive with the ball when we could be. Defensively and without the ball, the organisation and robustness was clear. In the end, their quality in the last third proved decisive. I am not sure Liverpool were anywhere near their fluent best and the main man Salah was off it, but we lacked options really, particularly forward wise from the bench. Brooks and Osula were energetic and worked hard but ran out of gas second half, but we end up with smaller players on the field to end and you are struggling t to see where the goal comes from despite the improvements.
Saturday, we play a side not at Liverpool’s level, but we have no McBurnie still (and Norwood out) and the lack of striking options is really clear. Hopefully we can show another step forward in performance and hopefully can get a result. I think it will be tough as every game is but if we replicate that level of showing, we might get something against Brentford.
The flashlights before kick-off were aimed at the tunnel as Wilder emerged and saluted the crowd as he was announced. Wilder made changes and gave starts to youngsters Brooks and Osula. Skipper for the night was Anel Ahmedhodzic. In form Liverpool had a powerful attacking line up spearheaded by Mo Salah. The atmosphere was bristling as the game kicked off and early on, a fired-up home side were able to win tackles and challenges and show a good level of organisation. Bogle’s tackle was an early sign of the determination and then Archer got away and was brought down from Endo. Mac Allister was brought down by Hamer and needed treatment before being able to continue. Brooks and Osula’s enthusiasm buoyed the crowd, but Saleh came inside and fired over giving the Blades a warning sign.
Liverpool won a series of corners but United managed to hold firm before Archer broke free and suddenly the home side were in. His pass was deflected into McAtee who was one on one, but Kelleher stood tall to make the save. It was a fantastic opportunity for United to take a shock lead. Liverpool responded and neat football nearly saw them in, but Trusty made a key interception. The Blades picked the pockets of the Reds again and were again on the break, but this time Archer’s shot was blocked after good work from Osula. Foderingham needed treatment after clashing with his own player and Liverpool then had a sustained spell of control and domination but were creating relatively little despite a number of corners.
Van Dijk did have an effort saved from Foderingham and his centre back partner Konate also forced the keeper into a save. Liverpool were now camped in the United half but Endo was booked for bringing his man down as the crowd tried to come to life again. Robinson conceded a corner and from the delivery from Alexander Arnold, VAN DIJK managed to take advantage of the block offs in front of him to smash home as he was left completely unmarked. VAR looked at it but saw nothing clear and obvious despite Ahmedhodzic going down and needing treatment. The same man almost scored his second with another free header from another Alexander Arnold cross but was over this time.
Salah had a weak effort on goal comfortably saved from Foderingham after incisive build up. Hamer was brought down in stoppage time, but McAtee was wasteful and a long way off target on the free kick. Mac Allister’s effort was helped over by Foderingham for yet another corner, but nothing came of this and United managed to see out the 7 extra minutes to remain well in the game.
The second half started as the first finished with Liverpool dominating possession but United were keeping a compact system and trying to fill the gaps. Souza was having his best game for a long time and Bogle and Trusty had both been touch tight on their men to ensure the ball was often funnelled back inside. United struggled to get out much but Archer nicked another ball and was on his way but lacked support. At the other end a cross came over and Salah was inexplicably left unmarked from a corner and his crashing effort seemed goal bound but Foderingham made a superb reaction save to keep it out.
Mac Allister was struggling and had to go off on the hour, replaced by Jones. Konate was booked for bringing down Archer who continued to be positive. Nunez and Elliott replaced Diaz and the disappointing Salah on 68 minutes. United had struggled to create much and were trying to just stay in the game.
A good break saw Brooks and McAtee play in Archer, but he could not get his shot away. At the other end, Foderingham had to make the save as Nunez was in and one on one, but it was a big stop to keep United in it. Osula and Brooks had run their race and on came Traore and Fleck as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Gomez fired over and then Gakpo was stopped from a good tackle from Robinson. Elliott then was fed after Liverpool managed to move the ball around with fluent football, but the effort was blocked. Jones effort then went wide before Nunez was yellow carded for time wasting as he kicked the ball away. United had appeals for a penalty as McAtee came inside and there appeared to be a push but nothing was given by either the referee or VAR.
Norwood and Lowe came on for Souza and Trusty and Robinson tried to launch long throws in from both sides, but a much taller Liverpool side were able to win the headers. Archer had an effort over the bar and the game went into six minutes of stoppage time. Norwood got a yellow card after a few challenges were ignored both ways. In the fourth minutes of stoppage time, Bogle was robbed from Nunez who seemed to go through the back of his man, but he was allowed on and chipped to the back post where SZOBOSLAI was unmarked and clipped home easily to seal the win. Once again VAR felt there was not enough to overturn this decision. The game was now settled and despite the better efforts from the Blades, it was another defeat, and they remain rock bottom.
United – It was much better in the sense we were better organised, more compact and harder to play through. We were competitive and were right in the game. It felt like we were a team again in the sense we were not a soft touch and not just ran through. Liverpool had loads of the ball and won a lot of corners (that we struggled with), but they did not create loads in open play. Wes made a few good saves, but most were in the 2nd half. We actually had a great chance at 0-0 when McAtee could not quite find the corner and Archer had a few opportunities in both halves but could not quite get his shot away. He did work very hard and was lively though. I thought it was the best Souza played for ages and the two wing backs were solid – indeed the whole defence was much better. I was impressed the level of organisation after he only had one day really of training with them. Liverpool did deserve to win overall but 2-0 maybe flattered them in the end even if we did not create much second half – I thought we were right in the game.
I just felt like players seemed to know their roles and what they were meant to do. They kept it simple and worked hard off the ball and tried where they could keep it and move it forward (quicker too) when they had it. Of course, the quality and skill level mean it’s much easier for Liverpool to create than us and we had to rely on stealing the ball and taking advantage of errors, but we did that a few times. We sat in and kept it solid and stayed right in the game. If we had been able to have better options from the bench maybe, we could have thrown more caution to the wind at the end?
The decisions did not go for us tonight. I thought the first was a goal and Anel goes down too easily but the McAtee push would not have been overturned if it had been given. I think it’s one that definitely was in the camp of you have seen given and was silly by the Liverpool player. We did have a few breaks despite Liverpool looking comfortable and you sensed maybe we might nick something, but we lacked physicality and size to profit from Robinson’s long throws and then at the end the second goal goes in to seal it. This seemed a clear foul as despite getting the ball, he went from the back to foul him.
Overall, feel better about how we set up and with limited options/personnel, we had a more professional and solid look to how we played. We had a few chances on the break and were more positive with the ball when we could be. Defensively and without the ball, the organisation and robustness was clear. In the end, their quality in the last third proved decisive. I am not sure Liverpool were anywhere near their fluent best and the main man Salah was off it, but we lacked options really, particularly forward wise from the bench. Brooks and Osula were energetic and worked hard but ran out of gas second half, but we end up with smaller players on the field to end and you are struggling t to see where the goal comes from despite the improvements.
Saturday, we play a side not at Liverpool’s level, but we have no McBurnie still (and Norwood out) and the lack of striking options is really clear. Hopefully we can show another step forward in performance and hopefully can get a result. I think it will be tough as every game is but if we replicate that level of showing, we might get something against Brentford.
