Sheffield United

Manager Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media before Sheffield United host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday (17:30 BST kick-off).

Here are the main headlines from his news conference:

• Striker Cameron Archer will "definitely be involved" against the Blues after being out of action for almost two months because of a calf injury. Gustavo Hamer is also expected to be available after sustaining a minor injury in Thursday's loss at Liverpool.

• On Archer's absence and return, Wilder said: "Cameron has been a major signing for Sheffield United and to not have him available for about six weeks has been a big blow. To have him back is great - he can get us up the pitch and score us a goal."

• Wilder said the Blades can take heart from the defensive part of their performance at Anfield: "We showed some good signs in terms of our structure and, most importantly, our attitude to defending. We have to produce these types of performances and give ourselves a platform to get a result."

• On the approach to the final eight games of the season: "We've tried to get results right the way through. I don't think there's been an attitude change. The opposition's strengths at times overcome anything you've got and sometimes it looks like you're not trying or you don't care, but I certainly don't believe that's the case. There have possibly been moments this season when the team should have done better and maybe have felt sorry for themselves through those periods. But the Premier League is ruthless, relentless and absolutely kills you when you're not on it."

• Wilder continued: "We have everything to play for in the last eight games. We've got a responsibility, first and foremost, to our supporters to give our best in every game. What I've seen in the past three games is certainly a reaction to a disappointing night at home to Arsenal. We need to show those qualities going forward."

• On Sunday's opponents Chelsea: "They're still in with a European shout and you look at the amazing squad strength and quality they possess - people can talk about them not being at their best and being inconsistent, but they can hurt you. We can take a lot from the past three games, especially our last home performance, and hopefully get something from the game."

Follow Friday's Premier League news conferences

Here are the key facts and figures before Sunday's game between Sheffield United and Chelsea in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United lost 2-1 the last time they hosted Chelsea in the Premier League - they most recently lost back-to-back home league games against the Blues in October 1965.

• Chelsea have won six of their past eight Premier League games against Sheffield United, having lost their first three.

• The Blades have conceded 50 goals at home this season, becoming just the second Premier League club to do so, after Derby County in 2007-08 (51).

• Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 11 away Premier League matches, their worst run without a clean sheet on the road since going 12 in a row between December 2019 and September 2020.

• Oli McBurnie has been involved in seven goals in his past seven home league appearances for United (five goals, two assists). In the five games he has scored in at Bramall Lane, he has not ended on the winning side (D2 L3), with only Dougie Freedman in 1998-99 scoring in more home games in a season without winning (six).

• Cole Palmer has been involved in 11 goals in his past 11 away Premier League appearances for the Blues (five goals, six assists). He is the first player aged 21 or younger to score five or more goals and assist five or more goals away from home in a season since Dele Alli for Tottenham in 2016-17, also under Mauricio Pochettino.

Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba told BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast that Chris Wilder's team deserved the positive reaction from their supporters after their 3-1 defeat at Anfield on Thursday: "They really put in a good performance. They were unfortunate, at the start, not to take the lead and then it was an unfortunate goal to give away.

"But they didn't grumble. They stuck at it and they kept the same. It was a good team performance. The second-half was much better and there were some really good individual performances in there.

"I was a little bit disappointed with Vini [Vinicius Souza], but that's just me. It's just because I think he is a lot better than what he showed against Liverpool.

"But I think that it was a really good performance and that is why the Blades fans clapped the players off. It was an honest performance against one of the best teams in the world.

"They just ran out of steam. Of course you will, especially when you have players like Cody Gakpo coming on. It is tough, but the boys can be proud of what they did."

Asaba also praised the "real potential threats" Sheffield United currently have in their front line: "Ben Brereton Diaz - he is great to watch because, even in a match as difficult as this, he offers a threat. He is a willing worker, he is awkward to play against, he is big and strong but he is really quick, he grafts. He has got the ability, so you have always got an out ball.

"You have got the quality of [James] McAtee there. I thought [Jayden] Bogle was outstanding when he had the ball in dangerous areas, his delivery was really good, he had a really good strike as well.

"So, there is a lot of positives there.

"The performance warranted merit and a positive response. Hopefully they can take this on and end the season playing consistently and being in consistent form."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

I have been in lots of relegation battles. I got relegated in my first year in the Premier League with Manchester City when I was only a teenager. I had to deal with that adversity so I know what it is like.

I do not think people crack or feel anxious in relegation fights, but you know when you are beaten. It is hard to fully motivate yourself as a team to get the desire to go back out there.

In these battles there are always people complaining and there are changes too. Managers are under pressure and fans add pressure as well.

There is no doubt that it is difficult.

There might not be a lot of hope for those teams in the relegation zone at the moment, but those players will still want to be playing in the Premier League next season. So they still have to use this time to shine because they inevitably will want a move back to a top-flight club.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

We asked for your thoughts on Thursday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Sheffield United.

Here are some of your responses:

Liverpool fans

Manicred: Far too pedestrian for the first 75 minutes of the match. Liverpool's class told in the end, but the worrying thing is how many chances we need to create to score a goal.

Bobby: We made that game hard work. Thanks to Mac Allister the team spirit lifted. Roll on Manchester United on Sunday. This game is more important than the FA Cup loss.

Karen: Another win, but again, made hard work of it. So much possession, but too many wasted opportunities. We must pad out the goal difference because it would be catastrophic to lose the title on goal difference.

Leonard: What a goal from Mac Allister! What a player! Liverpool still have a knack of playing below their best and still coming out on top. Fair play to Sheffield United. They put it up to them, but in the end Liverpool had the firepower to get over the line. If that firepower is more clinical (than they were in FA Cup) against Man Utd on Sunday then we should win.

Andy: I would like to see Endo and Elliott starting at Old Trafford. After a brilliant start to the season, sadly Szoboszlai has run out of energy while Elliott is a Duracell bunny. Endo is the signing of the season. He gives us real solidity in front of the back four.

Sheffield United fans

Alan: A splendid effort. If we had played with as much effort and spirit all season we would be nowhere near the bottom. With the score 1-1, Liverpool and their supporters were beginning to panic a little. They were definitely expecting an easier victory. A good night and proud to be a Blade. Let's hope for the same effort against Chelsea on Sunday.

Hayley: I think the second half looked positive from the Blades. Best we have played in a long time. We took the game to Liverpool for 75 minutes to the point Klopp has to make the changes he did. If he would have stayed with the full 11, we may have got something out of it. I think Macca and Diaz ran their socks off and created the chances.

Gerry: Thought they played with a lot of grit and determination, but failed to keep hold of the ball. It was a good show from Blades.

Matt: We defended really well and looked dangerous on the break, only to be outdone with a worldie strike. If we had fought so hard the rest of the season we wouldn't be in the mess we are.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder speaking to the BBC: "I don't think we are a lucky side. I know these are small margins, but the deflection that falls to Mac Allister, then it's a first-class finish. No-one will give us sympathy, we have to keep our heads down and working."

On the Mac Allister goal: "You're hoping that shot flies into the Kop and you write off a few more seconds. But that's why these are world-class players, they go right to the end and more."

On the task facing his players: "They are on social media, they read things, the narrative of most of the 60,000 people in the stadium is that this would be a stroll [for Liverpool]. But we have to compete and give that consistency to each other and to the manager.

"We are behind the black ball, in a snooker, it is an incredibly difficult task, we just have to keep fighting."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist at Anfield

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United had not won at Anfield since 1994, and no-one gave them a chance of causing a shock victory.

Liverpool eventually secured the three points, but the Blades made it a lot tougher for the hosts than anyone expected.

Boss Chris Wilder had said he needed a "top, top" performance from his side and they nearly took the lead inside the opening 90 seconds, only for James McAtee to have a shot well saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.

A huge frustration for Wilder was the fact Liverpool were gifted the lead when goalkeeper Ivo Grbic's 17th-minute clearance was charged down by Darwin Nunez and went into the net.

Sheffield United rode their luck, but Jayden Bogle had an effort saved at the end of the first half to show the game was still alive, before Gustavo Hamer's header bounced in off Conor Bradley for an own goal to leave it 1-1.

But, just as the away fans started to believe in claiming a brilliant result, Alexis Mac Allister scored with a truly stunning 25-yard strike, which zoomed into the top corner for surely one of the goals of the season.

The relief and delight around Anfield was evident and it was not until Cody Gakpo headed in a third goal in the 90th minute before the result many people had expected all night finally came to happen.

Wilder can be proud of his side's fight and spirit though as they gave the league leaders a huge fright.

• Liverpool have won more matches (16) and scored more goals (59) in all competitions in 2024 than any other side across Europe’s big-five leagues.

• The Reds have scored 26 Premier League goals this season in the final 15 minutes of matches, 10 more than any other side.

• Darwin Nunez became the sixth Premier League player to be involved in 30 goals in all competitions this season (18 goals, 12 assists) and second Liverpool player along with Mohamed Salah. In 2024. He's been involved in 15 goals in all competitions - the most of any player (10 goals, 5 assists).

• Liverpool enjoyed 83.1% possession in tonight’s match, a record by a team in a Premier League match since Opta began recording this data in 2003-04.

• Sheffield United have kept just one clean sheet in their last 39 away Premier League matches – a 1-0 win at Everton in May 2021 – conceding 83 goals across those games.

• The Blades are the first top-flight team to concede 80 goals in their first 30 matches in a season since Ipswich Town in 1963-64 (81).

• Sheffield United have made nine errors leading to opposition goals in the Premier League this season, the most of any side. Six of those have been made by goalkeepers (5 for Foderingham, 1 for Grbic).

Liverpool battled to victory over bottom-placed Sheffield United to move back to the top of the Premier League and maintain control of the title race.

The hosts were gifted a 17th-minute lead when Darwin Nunez charged down goalkeeper Ivo Grbic's clearance with the ball rebounding into the net.

Despite having 84% of possession in the first half and wasting numerous chances, Liverpool conceded a 58th-minute equaliser as Gustavo Hamer's header bounced off Conor Bradley and into his own net.

But Argentina's World Cup-winning Alexis Mac Allister - nominated for March's Premier League Player of the Month award - produced a stunning 20-yard strike which flew into the top corner to put the hosts back in front with 14 minutes left.

Mac Allister nearly grabbed a wonderful second but saw his curling free-kick bounce off the crossbar.

But it did not matter as substitute Cody Gakpo headed in Liverpool's third in the 90th minute to seal the victory.

The result takes the Reds two points clear of Arsenal and three ahead of reigning champions Manchester City, with each side having eight league matches left.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Liverpool fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Blades fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Two matches make up Thursday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times BST

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For the midweek matches, he takes on UB40 drummer and Birmingham City fan Jimmy Brown.

Sutton's prediction: 5-0

This is top versus bottom and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is going to be captaining my fantasy team - that should tell you all you need to know about what I am expecting to happen here.

Against Brighton on Sunday, Liverpool did what they have done all season, which is finding a way to win even when they fall behind.

This should be far more straightforward because Sheffield United do not have the quality to cause them the same problems the Seagulls did.

Liverpool cannot just expect to turn up and win easily, though. The finish line is in sight but they need to put their foot down to get there first, and that is what I think will happen here.

Looking at the table, goal difference could play a big part in the title race. Arsenal have the advantage there at the moment, but a big scoreline here could change that.

Brown's prediction: 2-0

Liverpool are actually my second team, and my Premier League team at the moment. I love Liverpool, I love the city and I love the people and I think they will get an easy win here.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Here are the key facts and figures before Thursday's Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Sheffield United.

• Liverpool have lost just one of their 39 Premier League home games against newly promoted sides, going down 1-0 to Fulham in March 2021. Since that defeat, the Reds have won their past eight by an aggregate score of 28-5.

• Sheffield United have conceded a league-high 77 Premier League goals this season, which is already their most in a top-flight campaign since 1975-76, when they let in 82 goals in 42 games and finished bottom of the table.

• The Reds have not lost any of their past 13 Premier League evening kick-offs, since a 2-1 home loss to Leeds United in October 2022. The Reds have won their past eight such games, scoring 26 goals.

• The Blades have had a two-goal lead in their past two league games but failed to win either (2-2 v Bournemouth, 3-3 v Fulham).

• Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has not scored or assisted a goal in his three Premier League appearances against promoted sides this season. He has never gone four such games without a goal involvement in the competition.

• Only Oli McBurnie (eight) and Gustavo Hamer (seven) have been involved in more Premier League goals for United this season than Ben Brereton (five – four goals, one assist), despite the Chile international only playing five games since joining in January.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media before Sheffield United's Premier League match away to Liverpool on Thursday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Wilder confirmed that George Baldock will be out for around six weeks with a calf injury and said: "We think highly of George in personality, characteristics and all round as a player. He got the injury on international duty so it's a difficult one for us to take. Disappointing news for both George and ourselves."

• He also confirmed that Cameron Archer will be back before the end of the season but Tom Davies is in a "similar situation" to Baldock.

• On Baldock being out of contract in the summer: "One of the players where we have a lot of thinking and talking to do. He will have options as well and part of it will be looked at from a club point of view and part from his point of view. We have really enjoyed working with him in our time here and hopefully have opportunity to work with him again."

• Wilder said there had been "zero sympathy" over Oliver Arblaster's substitution against Fulham, but the reason he was taken off was "because he couldn't move" and that he was "not happy" the youngster had played the full match in the international break.

• He added: "Do we keep him on the pitch and open up a young player to injury? When I say we had to make physical substitutions I'm not passing the buck, this is from a conditioning point of view and opening them up to injury. Tell you what - I'll keep playing him to 115 minutes, he pulls a muscle and he's out for six weeks. Lets do that, that is sensible isn't it?"

• He said there has been "mixed reaction" to the fourth goal they had ruled out against Fulham and added: "For us it kills the game. It is a key moment - 4-1 up and we're in a great position. Our second half performance deserved that. The timing of the goal gave them a huge lift and with the introduction of the players they brought on - I'm stating facts and the obvious, but this is what we're up against."

• On reports of Jamie Hoyland returning to the club as part of the recruitment team: "We have spoke to a lot of people and are going through an extensive process. The club will hopefully make a statement regarding that recruitment department. You will understand and know I am heavily involved in that with the chief executive and owner."

• On how they stop opponents Liverpool: "Good question, big question, not a lot of teams can do it. We just have to be the best that we are and have got to be resolute and defend well. We are going to have to have a big night, a huge night to get a result for us and we need big performances from everyone."

Ben Meakin
Fan writer

Every impactful performance by Oli McBurnie this season – the latest instalment saw an assist, goal and another chalked off by a marginal VAR call – throws renewed focus on the conundrum Sheffield United face in the next few months. McBurnie's five-year deal expires this summer and it's a thorny dilemma as to what the club do.

On the one hand, United are clearly a different team when McBurnie is on the pitch. His eight goal contributions puts him level with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Alexis Mac Allister, Scott McTominay and Leandro Trossard. He's been comfortably our best striker and one of the very few United players to look Premier League quality this season.

In that context, United should be locking McBurnie in a room with a new contract and not letting him out until he signs it.

The problem is availability and whether United are in a financial position to carry a high-earning injury-pone player (answer: probably not). McBurnie has started just 12 times this season, playing less than 1,000 minutes in total – a handful more than Luke Thomas who we sent back to Leicester in January.

He hasn't suffered repeated serious injuries, like Rhian Brewster, just regular niggles that mean he has not started more than three games in a row all season. It is maddening to see a struggling team repeatedly without their major attacking threat just after he’s shown us all what we’ve been missing.

It’s fair to assume McBurnie is one of the best-paid players at the club, and will probably have a decent market of suitors when his contract expires this summer. But do United really wave goodbye to their best striker, even allowing for the injury issues?

My hunch is that if Chris Wilder is still the manager – and all signs point to that being the case – then United will make a serious attempt to keep McBurnie. Several popular players will almost certainly be leaving at the end of their deals this summer, and retaining McBurnie would help ease that pain a little in the minds of fans for whom he is a popular, well-liked character.

It might prove to be out of our hands, especially if a team like Rangers – who McBurnie supports - pick up the phone at the end of June. But if the Blades can hold onto their number nine, I’ll personally be delighted every time he’s on the pitch – and tearing my hair out every time he’s not.

Ben Meakin can be found at BladesPod, external

Alex Scott introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Wolves

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Sheffield United and Fulham

Here are some of your responses:

Sheffield United fans

Mike: Thought the Blades had done enough and if VAR had not intervened I am sure they would have got three points. Second game where they have thrown away a two-goal lead. What goes on in defence? Do they talk to each other? Is it a concentration thing or a lack of quality?

Peter: The substitutions were the turning point. Why not McAtee rather than Norwood? United’s lack of depth was in stark contrast to their opponents’. Despite my disappointment the Blades’ goals were a thing of beauty - like water in a desert of a season. Roll on next season and be prepared to take a further hit for the cause of longer-term rebuilding.

Neil: Says a lot when our best defender on corners is McBurnie and we go and sub him and bring more pressure on our goal. But we showed some fight and that's what the fans want!

Fulham fans

Stephen: I've been supporting Fulham for 70 years and it's the same old story. We can play brilliantly against the top teams but when it comes to those below us in terms of league position we tend to have these moments of defensive madness that often lose us the match. At least we showed some bottle coming back from two down.

Will: I don’t think I’ve been more confident that we would win a game but even though we didn’t win what a game it was. At 3-1 it seemed all over before a De Cordova-Reid rocket, and what a goal from Muniz.

Jim: Fulham looked to be suffering from post international fatigue and just could not break Sheffield United down. The subs really changed it and Fulham could have won it at the end

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

For the second league match in a row, Sheffield United threw away a two-goal lead and were left wondering how they did not record a rare Premier League victory.

After an uneventful first half, it turned into a thriller at Bramall Lane as the Blades, with one of their best performances of the season, moved into a 3-1 lead going into the 86th minute.

But, just as they did in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, Chris Wilder's side let the lead slip from their grasp and in the end were hanging on for a point in a remarkable period of 16 minutes added time at the end of the second half.

Having scored only 24 goals from their previous 28 Premier League matches, the Blades netted three times in a 12-minute spell, with Ben Brereton Diaz on target twice with Oliver McBurnie also on the scoresheet.

Sheffield United could have taken a 4-1 lead, only for McBurnie to have a goal ruled out for offside, with Fulham scoring their second moments later before fighting back from two goals down.

But once more it was defensive errors that proved costly. The Blades, bottom of the table, are now seven points from safety but this was a missed opportunity for what would have been a vital win.

Chris Wilder, spoke to Match of the Day after Sheffield United's draw with Fulham: "I don't think my team could've given anymore, especially in the second half where we went after the game.

"It was a slow start from us and was important we reached a clean sheet at half-time. We gave ourselves a foothold to get something out of the game and in the second half we grew in belief, scored a couple of goals and thought we were on the way to a valuable three points.

"You look at the players they are bringing on and Fulham had that ability to just give themselves a bit of an extra push and we were on the back foot. A massive moment was the fourth goal and if we had got that maybe it would've given us a better opportunity.

"I'm delighted with the attitude but obviously the result is difficult to take. Being 3-1 up, you expect your team to see the game out. The goals are poor from our point of view, with a set piece yet again.

"We were 2-0 up at Bournemouth and got done by a set piece and that gave them an opportunity to get back in the game and it was the same again. The timing of their goals were not great from our point of view.

"We will take a point and every point in the Premier League is big."

On 16 minutes being played in additional time at the end of the second half: "I'm not going to get involved in any controversy in terms of my opinions as it has already cost me. I'm a hard-working lad from Yorkshire that works hard for his money and I'm not prepared to give that money to the Premier League or anyone else."

• Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie scored and assisted in a Premier League match for the first time in his 92nd appearance.

• Fulham have scored three goals in three of their oast four PL matches, while Sheffield United have scored three goals in a Premier League home match for the first time since they beat Chelsea 3-0 in July 2020.

• Fulham have only won one of their past 14 Premier League away matches (D5 L8). In fact, only Sheffield United have picked up fewer wins on the road (1) than Fulham’s two in the Premier League this season.

• Ben Brereton Diaz has been involved in five goals (scored four, assisted one) in his five Premier League matches for Sheffield United since joining the club in January.

• Only Liverpool (19) and Tottenham (15) have hit the woodwork more than Fulham (14) in the Premier League this season. No Fulham player has hit the woodwork more than Rodrigo Muniz (3) in the league in 2023/24.