Sheffield United

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford at Bramall Lane.

Here are the key headlines from his news conference:

• On aiming to build a "connection" between the team and the supporters: "Sean Dyche said it as well, about the connection he and his team have got with the Everton fans. We're trying to get that going again. It's a powerful force and certainly helps the players to play at the best of their ability."

• Reflecting on Wednesday's loss to Liverpool: "We need to have a bit more control when we have possession and if we do that, hopefully we can show our quality going the other way. I just don't want to be sat on the edge of the box waiting to get beat."

• Wilder added: "The approach of the team was good, we got up the pitch and asked questions. I've got an awful lot of respect for Jurgen [Klopp] and his team, and I think they will have felt they'd been in a game on Wednesday. Anybody who watched it will have said there's fight and life in Sheffield United still."

• George Baldock trained with the team on Friday and a late call will be made about his availability for the Brentford match.

• On Saturday's opponents: "I've got a lot of respect for Thomas Frank. He's a smart manager and a good guy. We had some great battles in the Championship. They're a powerful, athletic, aggressive and competitive team with technical players. It's a different challenge to Wednesday, but it's still a huge challenge."

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• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their past five league games against Brentford, all in the Championship. Their most recent meeting was a 3-2 win for the Blades in March 2019.

• This is the third top-flight game between Sheffield United and Brentford – the previous two were played on consecutive days in the 1946-47 season, a 6-1 Blades win on Christmas Day and 2-1 Bees win on Boxing Day.

• London sides have won each of their past six Premier League away games against Sheffield United.

• Among the 40 sides to play 100 or more games at the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off time in the Premier League, Sheffield United have the lowest points-per-game record in this slot (1.01 – P105 W26 D28 L51).

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Staton, BBC Radio Sheffield

It wasn’t the start Chris Wilder was hoping for in terms of the result but the performance hinted at brighter days ahead for the Blades. This was a very different display compared to those against Bournemouth and Burnley. It was always going to be a tall order to defeat Liverpool but more of the same this weekend should give United a chance to get a result against Brentford.

It’s been quite a week at the Lane. Paul Heckingbottom’s departure in the end wasn’t a surprise, a change had been rumoured for weeks. He had an extremely challenging summer - not conducive with success in the Premier League.

However, the performances against Bournemouth and Burnley were poor enough that the writing felt on the wall. Even as he departs, he should be remembered for the tremendous job he did picking up a Blades team that was going nowhere in the Championship under Slavisa Jokanovic and eventually winning promotion.

Life is just more interesting with Wilder around. That’s not a comment on Heckingbottom or any other boss. It’s just a fact that Wilder is great to interview, listen to, and he always has something interesting to say. His previous United teams have been exciting, all-action and successful. It’ll be intriguing to see if he can get things going again.

Listen to the latest episode of the Blades Heaven podcast on BBC Sounds

I’ve never been at a club when a manager returned. What I did have was Neil Warnock at Sheffield United and then he came to Leeds when I was there.

There will be a few of those players at Sheffield United who will see Chris Wilder return and might say: “Oh, that’s me now in trouble”. You’re already thinking he maybe doesn’t want your credentials. It can be a negative thing. But he may say: “You were brilliant last year and have shown something I didn’t know you could”.

Wilder will say he returns with more experience. He will know some of the players well and be very aware of the situation.

It’s important we put on record the incredible job Paul Heckingbottom did. He himself has documented some scenarios that may have helped him. Some clubs when promoted spend £100m but it’s unrealistic. He has done a wonderful job. Now Chris now needs a reaction.

Fans love what Wilder did for the club before in adversity. They also are fully aware it’s the Premier League and there’s a squad that can realistically only perform to certain levels. When that is the case after promotion, generally you are going to be in a fight aren't you? Just look at Nottingham Forest, who struggled last year despite spending ridiculous money.

Wilder will get his feet under the table and understand what he needs. I’m sure there will be help for him in January.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Luke Reddy

We asked for your thoughts on Wednesday's match between Sheffield United and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Blades fans

Paul: Kept them at bay for long swathes of the game and two poor refereeing decisions led to two goals for them. Roll on the Championship.

Nathan: An encouraging performance from us this evening. Defensively we were compact, determined and committed. AnelAhmedhodzic impressed, and Jack Robinson was tremendous with his wholehearted tackles and long throws. Good to have Chris Wilder back, but still feel for Hecky who handled himself brilliantly under sustained pressure. Come on United!

David: Proper grafter this man! When left to do his job without outside interference, he can certainly make things happen. He’s got proven ability at getting 11 players to work hard and perform together like the Red Arrows.

Graham: A lot better than what we have seen over the past few games. A lot more effort but both the goals should have been disallowed for fouls by Liverpool.

Liverpool fans

Daniel: Wasn’t our best performance, but we got the job done. I think critically we need to stop playing from the back. It’s too risky and there were times where we lost possession because of that. Virgil van Dijk was our best player and it was nice to see Dominik Szoboszlai on the scoresheet at the end.

Tommy: Hard-fought win, Liverpool deserved the points but made hard work of it. Big problems at full-back as Kostas Tsmikas is too slow and Joe Gomez continues to make poor decisions. A better team would have punished Liverpool

Kevin: Liverpool were less than convincing tonight, but we'll take the three points. Mistakes from Gomez and Ibou Konate almost cost us but Van Dijk and Szoboszlai were both outstanding.

Rob: Liverpool were poor tonight. Couldn't string three passes together and in the second half were unable to get on top of the worst team in the league. Wouldn't have begrudged Sheffield United if they got a draw.

Former Sheffield United United striker Carl Asaba spoke to the Blades Heaven podcast about the competition between Oliver Norwood and Vinicius Souza in Chris Wilder's Sheffield United side: "I think it's the competition he [Chris WIlder] wants. Not so much playing both, may the best man win. If you want to start and dominate, when you're on the pitch you do that or the other lad will get the chance.

"I think it will drive them both on. Ollie is the ultimate professional, he's not going to be deterred. He's going to try and get his way back in and and he's a great player.

"Vini [Souza], I think Chris could turn him into something really special."

Listen to the full Blades Heaven episode here

Image source, PA Media

Former Hull defender Alex Bruce saw positives from Sheffield United in Chris Wilder's first game back as Blades manager, albeit they were on the wrong end of the 2-0 scoreline.

He told the BBC's Football Daily podcast: "They kept the low block, they tried to frustrate Liverpool the best they can and hit them on the counter.

"When you burst forward and the ball changes hands, you need to find that bit of quality to find the pass and set the attacking players away. When they did that, they just didn't have that bit of quality to find the shot on goal, and when they did, they didn't work [Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin] Kelleher all night."

United remain four points from safety as a result of their 12th defeat in 15 Premier League games this season.

"No matter who is in the dugout, no disrespect to the players Sheffield United have got, it was always going to be a tall order and it's going to be a tough season for them," added Bruce.

"The one thing they need to do is stick together. If they're going to mount any kind of challenge to stay in this league, they need to try to make Bramall Lane a fortress and pick up points here.

"If Chris can implement a defensive shape that is going to make them difficult to beat, try to find a goal up the top end of the pitch, I'm sure that's what Chris is going to look towards doing."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Michael Beardmore, BBC Sport

On the face of it, a haul of just five points from a possible 45 should be no reason for positivity whatsoever.

But there was no denying the presence of hope at Bramall Lane on Wednesday evening, even at the final whistle of a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

The return of Chris Wilder to the dugout was always likely to elicit a response from both fans and players after the shambolic nature of the 5-0 loss at Burnley.

Admittedly it did not prove enough to produce a tangible return points-wise against a clearly superior Reds side who likely had gears to spare but the Blades, as Wilder demanded, were certainly competitive.

Had James McAtee taken their best chance, superbly created by the excellent Cameron Archer, at 0-0, it might have been a night to truly remember.

But it is the next two home games - against mid-table Brentford and fellow strugglers Luton - that will give a better indication whether Wilder cam achieve mission impossible. This, though, was an encouraging start even in defeat.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder: “Playing a team that is one of the best in Europe, certainly one of the best in England the Premier League for a number of years - an incredible manager and some fabulous players – I was delighted with the approach and the attitude of the players

"We are disappointed we haven't got something from the game - we knew would be on the back foot but we want to win and we are all in it to do that, first and foremost I asked for a performance and I definitely got that but I'm disappointed we haven't got a result.

“We knew they would have a lot of the ball but our shape was good and I felt comfortable – I think we were unfortunate with the goal. Jack Robinson trips over and they go in 1-0 but we were in the game and we wanted to take it deep which we did. First half we had two or three breakaway counters which we maybe should have done better with."

On a possible penalty for a Ibrahima Konate nudge on James McAtee and Darwin Nunez's challenge on Jayden Bogle in the build-up to Liverpool's second goal: “I can’t see how the centre-half can just push McAtee over in the box and the foul on Bogle, he’s wrapped his legs around him.

"You can say he's got the ball but 20-30 years coming through him to get the ball was allowed - it's not allowed now. That led to the goal and even before that he’s a lucky boy because he’s jumped into Jack Robinson without looking and that's a clear foul. So, yeah, I'm a touch frustrated if I'm completely honest."

• Sheffield United are only the third side in Premier League history to have as few as five points from their opening 15 matches of a season in the competition, after Sunderland in 2005-06 (5) and the Blades themselves in 2020-21 (2).

• Liverpool have scored at least once in each of their last 32 games in all competitions, the second-longest such run in their history, after a 34-game period from April to December 2021.

• Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have won all five of their Premier League games against Sheffield United, their joint-most against a side they have won 100% of their league games against under the German (also 5/5 v Norwich).

• Since the start of the 2018-19 season, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has 17 Premier League goals, at least four more than any other defender. Liverpool have won all 15 Premier League games in which the Dutchman has scored for them.

• Trent Alexander-Arnold now has 75 assists in all competitions for Liverpool. Since his debut in October 2016, only Kevin De Bruyne (129) and Mohamed Salah (80) have more in the Premier League.

Liverpool spoiled Chris Wilder's Bramall Lane homecoming to remain hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Wilder, who led Sheffield United to two promotions in a five-year reign before an unceremonious departure in 2021, received a raucous reaction from the Blades faithful on his return to the dugout.

However, Virgil van Dijk swept home a side-footed volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner to quell the vociferous home support despite Blades appeals he had fouled Anel Ahmedhodzic prior to doing so.

There was also an element of controversy about the Reds' second goal in stoppage time as Darwin Nunez's hefty challenge on Jayden Bogle was deemed fair in the build-up to Dominik Szoboszlai's cool finish.

Liverpool, beaten just once in the league this season when their nine men lost in stoppage time at Tottenham, move back to within two points of the table-topping Gunners.

The Blades, meanwhile, remain bottom, four points from safety, after a 12th loss in 15 league games, although Wilder will take heart from a competitive performance in defeat against the second-placed Reds.

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

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Image source, BBC Sport

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We asked for your opinions on Chris Wilder returning to manage Sheffield United for the second time.

Here are your thoughts:

Andy: He should never have left the club the first time. One of the best managers we have ever had. He unified a broken club and brought the dream to Bramall Lane. Hopefully he can do it again!

Matty: I think it's a wise option in terms of experience and because of the success Wilder had at United before, getting promoted twice in three seasons from League One to the Premier League, although I do wonder whether he is going to be able to change it around. Hopefully we can buy some players in January and have the chance of just staying up.

Joy: The players lack passion. I hope Wilder can bring that back. The real Sheffield United always fights, but that fight has been absent.

Michael: This is a convenient appointment, which will prove pointless. Sheffield United will be relegated. Wilder says he is better than when he left, but how? He’s been a disappointment at both Middlesbrough and Watford and his best days are long gone. He loves the sound of his own voice and believes his own rhetoric. It's got failure written all over it!

John: Sorry to see Hecky go. He has done a great job but he had no owner support - in fact we don’t really have an owner. I was sorry to see Wilder go for similar reasons. I welcome him back and wish him the best of luck - he’ll need it!

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

This week, he takes on CBeebies presenter Rhys Stephenson.

Sutton's prediction: 0-3

A new voice always makes the first game after a change of manager really interesting but, with Chris Wilder in the job, I don't see it making much difference for the Blades here, because what worries me is how brittle they are at the back.

Liverpool did amazingly well to come back to beat Fulham on Sunday and they are right in the thick of the title race now. This should be a much more straightforward victory for Jurgen Klopp's side, who have got the firepower to win comfortably.

Rhys' prediction: 0-3

Read the rest of their predictions here

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Heckingbottom said Bramall Lane "will always hold a special place in my heart" and thanked fans for making his time at the club so special.

In a statement released via the League Managers Association after he was sacked by the Blades, Heckingbottom said: "I leave Sheffield United after three and a half years with many great memories created by many great people.

"I begin by thanking Prince Abdullah and the board for entrusting me with managing such a special club. The challenges and successes have made for such a special couple of years, and it has been an honour to lead the team during this period.

"To the staff at Bramall Lane and in the academy, your roles can never be underestimated or undervalued. You are the heartbeat of the club and will continue to be, regardless of who is in charge. Thank you.

"To all first team staff at Shirecliffe, thank you for helping to create a fantastic place to come to work. It has been a joy! Your attitude and professionalism has helped us to navigate some potentially tricky moments and has kept us moving forwards, no matter what.

"To the players, those who have left, those who I have known a long time and those who I wish to have known longer, thank you. Working with you all is the best part of the job. The focus and spirit that you demonstrated allowed us to achieve special things. Our history-making season in the face of adversity, born out of a heart-breaking and emotional loss in the play-offs the season before, will forever be my highlight. A record 91 Championship points and an FA Cup semi-final does not begin to tell the story. Well done and I hope to catch up with you all soon.

"Finally, a message to the fans. Thank you for your support. You are what made the journey so special and many of my fondest memories are of the players and fans celebrating our victories together. Bramall Lane on a matchday will always hold a special place in my heart. I loved it! When the dust settles, that is what will bring me back. I hope to catch up with many of you then. In the meantime, keep supporting your team."

Chris Wilder said one of the biggest tasks he faces is getting Sheffield United fans back on board.

In his first news conference since re-joining the Blades, he said: "There are certain aspects that we need to get back to and the biggest one is connecting with the supporters. There is a feeling recently that that's been lost, that the players have lost the trust of the supporters and they need to earn that back."

Hear more from Wilder in the latest episode of BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast

Was it right for Sheffield United to say goodbye to Paul Heckingbottom?

The Football News Show have discussed his departure, and the return of Chris Wilder as manager, with BBC Radio Sheffield's Andy Giddings.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer