Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool: Five hits and flops from the game | Premier League 2019-20 

#4 Hit: Virgil van Dijk

Sheffield United v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Substantial amount of credit falls to the hosts for their game plan, crossing show and creative spells of play. They were simply fantastic for having moved the ball up the field quickly against one of the fiercest presses in the division.

The likes of Jack O'Connell, John Fleck and Enda Stevens flooded crosses into the box, but Virgil van Dijk was there to sniff danger and thwart it with conviction. He was always ahead of the ball and the opposition forward, sensing trouble before everybody else and thereby, clearing his lines.

As usual, van Dijk was effortlessly impressive with the ball at his feet, as he supplied passes up the pitch time and time again. The balls over the top to Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah were commendable as well.

The way he dealt with long balls and crosses was superb. His positioning, decision-making and poise in the middle exemplified why he is widely regarded as one of the finest center-halves on the planet.

#3 Flop: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) couldn't quite influence proceedings up front

Trent Alexander-Arnold starred in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea last week, causing major trouble to the Blues' back line and launching an absolute rocket of a goal to power his side ahead.

Today however, he was besieged by a heroic tactic from Chris Wilder, who forced his players to play the long diagonal, along with the 60-odd yard pass down the left channel. He knew how desperate the Liverpool full backs are to get forward and combine with the front three, and the Sheffield United gaffer used the same to great effect.

Not once or twice but thrice, John Egan and Stevens combined to set an ever-willing McBurnie down Liverpool's right - in acres of space. And to say the least, Alexander-Arnold was caught out way too often.

Further, Sheffield United did brilliantly to press the left and right spaces down, condense the spaces and force Robertson and Alexander-Arnold to occupy deeper, wider spaces - from where they aren't as lethal as we know they can be.

The Liverpool right back thus, couldn't really provide much going forward either.

Andy Robertson-the other Liverpool fullback.