Liverpool vs Sheffield United 03/01/20

3 January 2020

Liverpool will be looking to stretch their winning Premier League (PL) run on home turf to 11 straight games when they take on Sheffield United at Anfield this week.

The hosts have won all four of their last PL fixtures without conceding a single goal, and that run could be extended here, as the Reds have beaten Sheffield to nil in both of their previous top-flight H2Hs. Curiously, Jurgen Klopp’s men have found the net in the final 15 minutes of the first half in each of their last five PL outings, with 60% of their total goals scored during that five-game sequence coming before the halftime break. Strong first-half performers, the Merseyside giants have won nine of ten first halves of the PL home action played so far, with a 2-1 win over Tottenham being the lone exception (0-1, 2-1). Also, the reigning Champions League holders have scored 2+ match goals in all but one of their ten PL home fixtures so far this season, breaking the deadlock on eight of those occasions.

Meanwhile, the visitors’ recent dip in form has seen them go from four straight PL wins to back-to-back league games without a victory (D1, L1). As a consequence of a true Yorkshire grit running through their veins, only one of their last seven PL fixtures has produced over 2.5 goals. Additionally, just two of Sheffield’s ten PL road trips have featured three or more goals, although seven have seen both teams score. Indeed, a lack of goals has been Sheffield’s main problem this term, as they’ve scored one goal or less in seven PL away outings, netting an average of 1.1 goals per PL road match. But, before succumbing to a 2-0 loss to Manchester City last time out, the Blades have avoided defeat in all nine of their top-flight away games this season (W3, D6).