MatchSheffield United v Liverpool: Team news

After starting in Sunday’s dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham, Joel Matip was forced off with an injury midway through the second half and is facing a spell out.

“I don’t know exactly [how long he will be out] but it doesn’t look good, that’s something we can say,” explained the manager at his pre-match press conference.

“The scan is not done yet so we don’t know exactly, but it’s not great. From the first second it was clear, we spoke to him and said, ‘No, that’s not good.’”

Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota are progressing well in their recoveries from injuries sustained last month, but remain unavailable for selection.

Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Andy Robertson are the Reds’ longer-term absentees.

Wednesday’s opponents have a new manager at the helm, with Chris Wilder completing a return to the club on Tuesday following the departure of Paul Heckingbottom.

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On how that change affects Liverpool’s preparations for the match, Klopp said: “We can probably bin our analysis! I was sitting yesterday in the office and somebody told me it might happen... but I watched it anyway. We will see.

“We have to focus on ourselves. I don’t think he will now change too much. What can he change in that short period? We don’t have to think too much about it. We really should just prepare for a football game. We play teams with five at the back, 5-3-2 and 5-4-1, quite frequently, to be honest.

“We have to make sure we give them a proper job to think about. I understand it’s always like that – a new manager coming in and now we start getting confused; we shouldn’t.”

The Blades will be without striker Oliver McBurnie for the 7.30pm GMT kick-off as he serves a suspension after a red card last weekend.

Wilder otherwise played his cards close to his chest as he spoke to the media for the first time since his appointment was announced.

“I’m not going to give anything away – the job is hard enough,” he said. “Everybody knows Oli Mc is not going to be available and there’s some long-term injuries; [John] Egan, [Tom] Davies and the likes of that.

“But it’s looking OK in terms of a few coming back. Rhian Brewster, and Rhys Norrington-Davies has trained today, and [Daniel] Jebbison is not a million miles away.

“So, getting people back, getting players back, to give us the opportunity to be competitive and have a stronger, more balanced squad is key to that.”

Last match

Burnley 5-0 Sheff Utd (December 2): Foderingham, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty, Baldock, Norwood, Fleck, Thomas, Hamer, Archer, McBurnie.

Liverpool 4-3 Fulham (December 3): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Diaz, Salah, Nunez.