SHEFFIELD UNITED'S PLAYERS TAKE STEPS TO ARREST FROM SLUMP AMID ",INSANE" LEEDS UNITED, BURNLEY PROMOTION FIGHT

His side may travel to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow on the back of successive defeats at a crucial stage of the promotion race, but Chris Wilder remains adamant that Sheffield United’s season is not over just yet. Tuesday night’s home loss to Millwall saw the Blades drop out of the automatic promotion places with just five games of the regular campaign still to go.

Just two points separate United from the top two, Leeds United and Burnley, with the Blades still to visit Turf Moor on Easter Monday in a clash that is growing in importance by the week. For so long the hunted, United have become the hunters on the final straight of the promotion race but United’s mentality has not changed too much, with their players calling a private meeting this week in a bid to arrest their mini-slump in form.

“I should imagine there'll have been the same situations at all three clubs battling it out,” said Wilder of the pressure of a promotion bid. “We've all had to deal with that. We [all three managers] have all had success personally but it's a new group for me and for Scott [Parker], while Dan's [Daniel Farke] had a season with Leeds United as well.

“We're all in the same situation, with the twists and turns. So keeping calm is important. But for all three clubs to be on 85 points - and I'm not trying to be clever about this now, I'm going on wins and points - at this stage of the season is insane, really, with five games to go.

“We all have the opportunity to win 100 points [although United can only theoretically finish on 98 with their minus-two point deduction]. The points tally is incredible and all have had to do a lot of things right.

“The tally we've got is an incredible achievement. I can't do anything about the narrative and the noise, as we talk about it, from social media and saying ‘We haven't done this and that.’ We own the last two defeats. But we own the 26 wins and the 85 points as well.”

Wilder was delighted to see his players take ownership of the situation earlier this week. “The players had a team meeting yesterday which I’m all over because it shows they're taking responsibility. That isn't me distancing from them, but they're so desperate. The players in this situation need to be as cold as ever ... that's what the best players do.”

- Danny Hall

ARSENAL LEGEND PAUL MERSON MAKES LIVERPOOL TITLE RACE PREDICTION AS REDS CRASH OUT OF FA CUP

Liverpool can tighten their grip on top spot with a win this week (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool can further extend their lead at the top of the Premier League if they see off Everton in midweek with Paul Merson suggesting a nine point cushion would all but secure the title

Paul Merson believes victory for Liverpool in Wednesday's Merseyside derby will all but wrap up the Premier League.

The Reds were dealt a huge blow on Sunday as their FA Cup hopes ended at Plymouth Argyle. Arne Slot named a much changed side as he deals with three games in the space of a week, but they were still expected to see off the Championship strugglers.

Attention will now turn back to Premier League matters with Liverpool playing their game in hand. The clash with Everton was cancelled last year and they'll take on their local rivals on Wednesday in the rescheduled fixture.

Currently Slot's side hold a six point advantage over Arsenal in second. A win would see them go nine clear with the business end of the season very much nearing - and Merson believes that would be too big a gap to overhaul.

He told Metro Sport : "They’ve [Arsenal] got two [trophies left to win], one they could be out of by Wednesday night in my opinion. If Liverpool win at Everton, that’ll be nine points clear with 15-odd games left. They’d have to lose four of them, which I think would be impossible. To me, it comes down to Wednesday."

Liverpool are looking to land just their second Premier League title, which would add to the one they won back in 2020. It would also be a huge coup for Slot as he makes a mark in his first season after succeeding Jurgen Klopp. Arsenal meanwhile are trying to avoid a third straight second place finish but have the odds stacked against them in their pursuit of the title.

The Reds remain in the hunt for three trophies having booked their spot in the Carabao Cup final last week. They'll face Newcastle in the final at Wembley whilst plenty onlookers believe they've already got one hand on the Premier League trophy.

Liverpool were in contention for several honours this time last year before eventually falling away. Their involvement in the Champions League means the games will continue to come thick and fast with Slot admitting their schedule is relentless.

"I said before that we have to play many games now," he said. "The Aston Villa game comes during the week again as well. The last few weeks we have played every single week two times. The upcoming weeks we have to play every single time two games."

- Samuel Meade

LIVERPOOL BEATEN BY PLYMOUTH ARGYLE IN FA CUP FOURTH ROUND

Liverpool exited the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 by Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The Championship hosts netted the only goal of the game in the second half of the fourth-round encounter.

Striker Ryan Hardie converted a penalty after Harvey Elliott was penalised for a handball in his own box.

Team news

Joe Gomez returned as Arne Slot made multiple changes for the encounter with the Pilgrims. Diogo Jota was also included in the XI, with only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher retaining a place in the team.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez (Mabaya, 10 [Nunez, 58]), Endo, Diaz, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah, Nyoni (Kone-Doherty, 76).

Unused subs: Jaros, Jones, Nallo, Ngumoha, Norris, Young.

First half

The hosts started on the front foot inside the first minute as Hardie latched on to a forward header to drive at goal, though Gomez was quickly across to block the effort.

Trey Nyoni quickly returned fire at the opposite end but the Plymouth back line got in front of his attempt.

In minute 10 the Reds were forced into a substitution, Gomez having to bring his return to action to a close early due to injury, with Isaac Mabaya his replacement.

Darko Gyabi also saw a low drilled shot from a corner blocked in another opening for the hosts a short while later, though Liverpool were otherwise largely unchallenged in their own third.

Both sides were struggling to take real control of the ball and the game as they battled for possession for much of the first half-hour.

Plymouth had appeals for a penalty waved away as Kostas Tsimikas tangled with Mustapha Bundu in the area with the striker advancing.

Ahead of the interval, meanwhile, James McConnell had Liverpool’s best opening of the game saved by goalkeeper Conor Hazard.

The midfielder’s shot deflected off Gyabi and was heading into the bottom corner until the stopper’s intervention down to his left.

In the last of the action, Gyabi himself fired a shot over the bar from inside the box in what was a competitive opening 45 minutes.

Second half

Plymouth started the second period on top with Callum Wright seeing a cutback and shot blocked over the bar by Wataru Endo.

Seven minutes after the interval, however, the home side had a lead from the penalty spot via striker Hardie.

Gyabi hooked the ball over his head in the box and the ball hit the raised arm of Elliott, allowing Plymouth’s No.9 to convert from 12 yards out as he sent Kelleher the wrong way.

Darwin Nunez was introduced from the bench just before the hour in response, replacing earlier substitute Mabaya.

Plymouth again went close to adding to the scoreline, Hardie proving the threat once more, seeing a shot strike the outside of the post after a free-kick was lifted into the area from deep.

Liverpool pushed for a leveller, Federico Chiesa delivering low into the box from the right flank to find Luis Diaz, though the winger was unable to connect fully with a sweeping shot as the defence retreated.

In the closing stages, McConnell fired wide of the goal in a good opening for the Reds, with goalkeeper Hazard having come to gather a ball forward.

The home stopper failed to collect and the Liverpool midfielder took the ball down before shooting wide of the post from distance.

In added time, Jota forced a strong save from the goalkeeper, the No.20 volleying on the turn from the edge of the box, with his shot heading for the top corner of the net.

And in the final seconds of the game, Nunez again worked Hazard, as he tipped a close-range header over the bar after McConnell put the ball back across goal from another free-kick.

It was as close as the Reds would come to levelling the contest, with the hosts earning passage into the fifth round of the competition.

- Joe Urquhart at Home Park

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE KNOCKS LIVERPOOL OUT OF THE FA CUP

 

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE VS. CRYSTAL PALACE | HIGHLIGHTS | CARABAO CUP