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Liverpool has lost 4 league games on the trot and they went to Sheffield United who still stayed rooted to the bottom of the table in search of answers. Both teams are actually in search of an answer. Sheffield United played 25 games and have lost 20 out of those. Liverpool still dealing with their injury crisis but still not an excuse is given the embarrassing wealth of talents they still possess.
Sheffield United had a brilliant opportunity in the 5th minute when an inswinging cross found McGoldrick. His brilliant header was expertly saved by the goalkeeper. If it has scored, VAR would have had a check on it as it seemed he was offside.
Liverpool tried to get on the front foot and in the 10th minute, Thiago tried to find Mane but Mane's challenge with the defender created space for Firmino who ran into the box but Ramsdale kept the ball out. Firmino should have scored there. With the ball still in play, Robertson's cheeky attempt was parried away by Ramsdale again because it would have dropped inside the net. With the ball still in play, Salah was found in the box later on but the ball hit his thigh and it went out of play. Ramsdale has kept his team in the game up till this point. He has been alert, coming out, sweeping balls away and keeping Liverpool's attack silent.
In the 17th minute, a deflected McGoldrick's shot was also pushed for a corner kick by Adrian. Sheffield United didn't want to go down without a fight. In the 21st minute, Ramsdale stopped another attempt to score when a lovely ball in from Arnold found Robertson but his touch was too much on the ball and Ramsdale swept to clear it away.
Ramsdale denied Salah in the 29th minute when Firmino's lovely ball set Salah into the box. Salah managed to get into the box but the legs of Ramsdale kept the ball out. Brilliant goalkeeping. In the 32nd minute again, Ramsdale saved brilliantly from Alexander Arnold's thumping shot. He has kept his side in the game up till this point.
Sheffield United thought they were ahead in the 36th minute when Ozan Kabak turned the ball into his own net but the offside flag was raised. A huge let-off for the young defender.
Wijnaldum managed to get himself into possession and hit a shot in the 39th minute which Ramsdale kept out again. Ramsdale has become a thorn in Liverpool's flesh on the night.
The first half ended and nothing to separate them and thanks to Ramsdale. The second half started and in the 49th minute, Arnold did brilliantly well to keep the ball in play and play it into the box. The ball found the on-coming Curtis Jones who expertly had a placed shot into the back of the net for his first goal of the season. VAR had a check to be sure that it didn't go out of play before Arnold crossed in and the goal stood. 1-0.
Firmino was played in the box and his shot got deflected and went into the back of the net for the second goal of the night. It was counted as an own goal for Bryan in the 64th minute. It has been a long time coming and Liverpool stayed ahead just as they deserved it. It was a determined performance to get out of the 4 games defeat they have suffered up till this point.
Liverpool dominated proceedings and Sheffield United relied heavily on the counter. They made Liverpool have a run for their money and made it difficult for them with flashes of their brilliance as well.
In the 80th minute, Salah was played in and he missed the golden chance to add the 3 goals on the night. It was a shocking miss from that sort of position.
The game ended 2-0 in favour of Liverpool and they are within touching distance of the top 4. The win was important because they gained 3 points when others ahead of them dropped points. Leicester City dropped 3 points when they lost 3-1 to Arsenal while West Ham was also beaten by Manchester City and Chelsea with United played a boring goalless match.
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