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Premier League | Gameweek 21
Jan 2, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
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Salah (4'), Mane (64')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Chris Wilder: 'Sheffield United have a fantastic future ahead'

Chris Wilder: 'Sheffield United have a fantastic future ahead'
© Reuters
The Blades won promotion and have been a surprise package in the top flight.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder had little time for reflection at the end of a stellar 2019 for his club.

The Blades were an outside bet for automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship 12 months ago but on Thursday they take on Liverpool at Anfield from a position of comfort in the top half of the Premier League.

Wilder's side have continued to defy the odds – they lost for the first time in almost a year on the road at Manchester City on Sunday – but the former Oxford and Northampton manager preferred to look forward at the turn of the year.

"There's a fantastic future ahead for the football club, we've put ourselves in a great position," Wilder said.

"But I'm never one to sit back and admire and my staff aren't and my players won't.

"We've got some huge challenges in the new year and ones we are really looking forward to."

The first of those is against Jurgen Klopp's champions-elect, who were given a real scare by the Blades at Bramall Lane in September when Georginio Wijnaldum's fumbled shot clinched them a narrow win.

Liverpool have since surged clear in the title race but no challenge is a lost cause as far as Wilder is concerned.

"Going to Anfield, iconic stadium, fabulous experience, everything that Liverpool bring to the English game," he said.

"They are the most powerful, historic of clubs in our game and going so well.

"But we'd like to put a little bump in their road, as we tried to do at Manchester City."

The Blades have beaten Arsenal and drawn with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United this season and are in contention for European football next season.

"I always think time for reflection is at the end of the season and time to reflect on a career is when you finish," Wilder added.

"But I think certainly the club has done a hell of a lot of good things in this calendar year.

"A terrific campaign in the Championship with Norwich and Leeds United. We shouldn't have been anywhere near it, but we were.

"Then to get into the Premier League and off we go on a new journey, a new experience, and so far we've handled it very, very well.

"There's still a lot of work to put in and a lot of games to go, so we're not sat here comfortable.

"We can be happy with what we've done in 2019, but certainly the key is to kick on into the new year and keep improving."

Liverpool-born midfielder John Lundstram hopes to recover from an ankle injury in time to feature at Anfield, while otherwise Wilder will select from a fully-fit squad.

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General view of Sheffield United's Bramall Lane taken April 2017
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
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12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
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16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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