In the Premier League on Wednesday, Sheffield United will host Liverpool and play in front of the irate Bramall Lane supporters after Paul Heckingbottom was fired and Chris Wilder returned home.
against the weekend, Liverpool extended their unbeaten home record at Anfield with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Fulham, while the Blades were humiliated 5-0 by Burnley.
Before Burnley’s trip to Turf Moor on Saturday, the Clarets had visited the pitch seven times during the 2023–24 Premier League season, and each time they had lost, creating an unwelcome new record for the tournament.
But after only 15 seconds of play in Lancashire, Jay Rodriguez scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this season, starting the demolition job.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Bogle, Souza, Norwood, Larouci; Hamer, McAtee; Archer
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
But within 15 seconds of the Lancashire kickoff, the demolition job was under way. Jay Rodriguez scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this year, followed by goals from Zeki Amdouni, Luca Koleosho, Josh Brownhill, and Jacob Bruun Larsen, all of which were scored in front of an irate Heckingbottom.
The Blades board had stood by Heckingbottom despite his growing amount of misfortune this season, but Saturday’s five-goal humiliation was the last straw, as Sheffield United announced on Tuesday that Heckingbottom had been fired.
Chris Wilder, the 56-year-old who led Sheffield United back to the top division and to a remarkable top-half standing in 2019–20, has been enticed to return to his hometown of the Blades.
Prediction: SHU 0: 3 LIV
