BRAMALL LANE Notebook

No festive cheer for Liverpool’s physios

SPORTS physiotherapists can relate to Santa and retail workers, as they also have their busiest period during Christmas, it would seem. Liverpool, like many other Premier League clubs, have a mounting injury crisis. Jurgen Klopp labelled the festive season as the ‘toughest period in world football’ last week and will negotiate most of it without several key men including Alisson, Andy Robertson and latest concern Joel Matip. It meant the Reds had to name two goalkeepers on the bench — Adrian and Marcelo Pitaluga, who spent time on loan at non-League Macclesfield last season.

CHRIS WILDER wasn’t the only Blades legend returning to Bramall Lane last night.

Former striker Billy Sharp, who scored 129 goals in 377 games for the club, was part of Amazon Prime’s punditry team as the 37-year-old plots his next steps, having recently finished a stint at LA Galaxy. Sharp has never minced his words, so should make a good pundit.

IS THERE a better than pre-match anthem Chip the Blades’ Greasy fill up Butty song? ‘You a night my senses… like like a out in Sheffield, like greasy chip butty, Sheffield United…’

game, Liverpool put the game to bed after Nunez picked out Szoboszlai, who finished calmly to secure their first Premier League away win since September and leave the Blades rock bottom.

Wilder’s sequel started with plenty of reasons for optimism — they were well-drilled at the back and created openings at the other end — but after working a couple of miracles in his first stint in South Yorkshire, it feels like his biggest task yet stands ahead.