Liverpool are sailing into the New Year with a commanding lead in the Premier League but face a Sheffield United team who have been the surprise package of the season.
Just two points dropped from a possible 57 sees the Reds sit 13 points clear and holding a game in hand.
The Blades, meanwhile, have slipped slightly from their fifth place on Christmas Day but still sit eighth and will be buoyed by almost taking points of Liverpool in the reserve fixtures.
Date: Thursday, January 2, 2020
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off time: 8pm GMT
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Sheffield United
Liverpool look utterly imperious and have had a longer rest than their rivals. Jurgen Klopp & Co. should start 2020 with a win.
Tickets
Tickets are sold out.
TV channel and live stream
The match will be televised live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate with coverage starting from 7pm.
BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match online via the video player and the BT Sport app.
Head to head (H2H) history and results
- 7 Premier League games
- Liverpool 3 wins
- Sheffield United: 2 wins
- Draws: 2
- This season: Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool (28/09/2019)
Betting Odds
- Liverpool to win: 1/4
- Sheffield United to win: 12/1
- Draw: 5/1
- Liverpool to win 2-1: 7/1
Odds provided by Betfair Exchange. Click here for more odds.
Team news
Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp is likely to ask for one final push from a familiar-looking starting XI as Liverpool finish off a busy festive fixture schedule.
If Klopp is to make a change, it would likely see Naby Keita return in place of Adam Lallana, the pair having performed the same midfield role against Leicester and Wolves respectively.
Injury list: Joel Matip (knee), Xherdan Shaqiri (thigh), Dejan Lovren (thigh), Rhian Brewster (ankle), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (ankle), Nathaniel Clyne (knee), Fabinho (ankle)
Sheffield United: John Lundstram should be passed fit after being assessed ahead of kick-off. Oli McBurnie is expected to come back into the starting XI.
Injury list: John Lundstram (ankle), Simon Moore (groin)
Predicted lineups
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Mane, Firmino
Sheffield United: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Baldock, McGoldrick, Norwood, Lundstram, Stevens, Mousset, McBurnie
Premier League table: As it stands for Liverpool and Sheffield United.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Liverpool | 19 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 55 |
| 2 | Leicester City | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 42 |
| 3 | Man City | 20 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 41 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| 5 | Man Utd | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 31 |
| 6 | Tottenham | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 30 |
| 7 | Wolves | 20 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 30 |
| 8 | Sheffield Utd | 20 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 29 |
| 9 | Crystal Palace | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | -4 | 27 |
| 10 | Everton | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | -7 | 25 |
| 11 | Newcastle | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | -10 | 25 |
| 12 | Arsenal | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | -4 | 24 |
| 13 | Burnley | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | -9 | 24 |
| 14 | Brighton | 20 | 9 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 23 |
| 15 | Southampton | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | -14 | 22 |
| 16 | Bournemouth | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -8 | 20 |
| 17 | West Ham | 18 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -11 | 19 |
| 18 | Aston Villa | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | -11 | 18 |
| 19 | Watford | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -24 | 16 |
| 20 | Norwich | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | -19 | 13 |
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