(Football news) In midweek, Chelsea overcame a 2-3 deficit to defeat Manchester United, while the Blades’ valiant efforts against Liverpool ended in a 3-1 victory. While some Kop supporters were still getting settled in, Sheffield United’s James McAtee forced Caoimhin Kelleher into the first save of the match in the first minute of play on Thursday. Chris Wilder’s team then went on to play close to the Reds for extended stretches of time, defying pregame expectations.
As Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm, Darwin Nunez’s incredible strike was nullified by an unfortunate Conor Bradley deflection. However, the Blades’ hard work was undone by an Alexis Mac Allister thunderbolt, and Cody Gakpo’s late header placed the cherry on top for the Reds.
While Wilder ought to have reflected on the bright moments of Thursday’s defeat at Anfield, another failure to put any points on the board has only accelerated Sheffield United’s seemingly inexorable slide down to the Championship, as they remain dead last in the table with just eight games to go.
A 10-point gap to Nottingham Forest in 17th is not mathematically insurmountable, but Sheffield United’s repeated lack of defensive discipline continues to harm their bid for a miraculous escape; 80 goals conceded after 30 top-flight matches is the most in the Premier League era.
Only two points have been accrued from Sheffield United’s last six top-flight battles, one of which saw Wilder’s men agonisingly throw away two more in a 3-3 home draw with Fulham, where they shipped multiple goals at Bramall Lane for the sixth Premier League game running.
West London foes Chelsea are no stranger to having their backline breached on familiar turf, as was the case three times during Thursday’s visit of fellow fallen titan Man United, who would ostensibly head back up north with the bragging rights as Alejandro Garnacho’s brace and Bruno Fernandes’s effort briefly rendered Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher’s efforts inconsequential.
However, the Blues were on the right side of Premier League history during an extraordinary finale, where the ever-composed Palmer levelled from the spot deep into added time, before the former Manchester City man and boyhood Red Devils supporter scored the latest winning goal on record in the competition.
Mauricio Pochettino and co exploded with unbridled emotion as Palmer’s deflected strike deceived Andre Onana, and by virtue of putting Erik ten Hag’s job under even more threat, the Blues boss bought himself some more coveted time in the hotseat as his side stretched their unbeaten run to six matches.
The visitors, who are now in 10th position and two points behind West Ham United with two games remaining, are still making a late push for Europe. They come to Bramall Lane having both scored and given up multiple goals in each of their last six games, but they have managed to escape losing each time.
Given that Chelsea hasn’t kept a clean sheet in their previous 11 away Premier League games, neutrals may have expected another exciting, goal-filled game. However, in December, the Blues easily defeated Sheffield United 2-0 to win the series for the fourth time in history.
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