More like it from the champions as they keep the ball for an extended period. Working the Blades out, pushing them around.

Liverpool's absentee and VAR's intervention have been key to this scoreline but United also need credit. They are first to everything at the moment, winning every second ball. I wonder if that tweak to the Liverpool midfield is an issue.

What a goal that would have been! Oli McBurnie is bullying the Liverpool defence, winning everything in the air which he wouldn't be if...well, you know.

He heads it on, George Baldock whips in a cracking cross on the run which Ben Osborn meets on the volley, a fine connection and Alisson has to push it out.

And now a very good chance for a second! That Liverpool backline is looking rather suspect as we rather wondered as a long ball over the top finds Oli McBurnie and he shoots wide. He may have been offisde actually.

Sander Berge then hits a volley, deflected wide. United playing really well here.

The Blades have another shout for a penalty waved away by Mike Dean...

Was that handball? It struck the arm of Andrew Robertson but not in a meaningful way.

If any Liverpool fans have any hard feelings about that penalty award, which is fairly unthinkable I know, it's worth flagging that that was the first Premier League penalty Liverpool have faced at Anfield in two years and 17 days, since a 0-0 draw with Man City in October 2018.

Riyad Mahrez put it into Kirkby if memory serves.

Some belief running through the visitors' dark chocolate minty veins now. Rhian Brewster and Sander Berge linking up well on the edge of the area but eventually Liverpool get numbers back to shut it down.

Good game so far.

Only one of these results is now possible...

That wasn't really a mistake by Fabinho as such but when you're filling in for such a good defender any little rick will be forensically analysed. He now covers the ground well to tackle Ben Osborn.

Video Assistant Refereepublished at 12 mins

12 mins

Liverpool 0-0 Sheffield United

That's very hard to see either way. I think it's just outsi... no!

Woooahhhh that is close! Fabinho fouls Oli McBurnie right, and I mean right, on the edge of the area.

Mike Dean has given a free-kick but VAR will look at this.

It's a bit after-dinner mint this kit isn't it? Not the best.

United test Alisson from the corner, loading the ball right on his head and he punches it out. Rhian Brewster then nearly nicks the ball from Fabinho with some extreme pressing. Smart work.

Good spell now from the Blades who need to settle down. They have some patient play down the left and win a corner off Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Load up the box!

What an effort that was from TAA. The champions could be two up already.

Paul Collins: Expect Liverpool to win by at least three. Regardless of what they did last season Sheffield Utd are a poor team who couldn't even beat an abysmal Fulham side. And this is at Anfield. Sheff Utd will be lucky to even have a shot at goal they're that negative most weeks.

Don't pull your punches Paul, tell us how you really feel...