Chris Wilder puts ban on Sheffield United players to stop them gushing over Liverpool

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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder doesn’t want his players swapping shirts with any of Liverpool’s superstars on Saturday lunchtime.

The Blades boss believes this will help the game be played on an even keel – despite the fact his newly promoted are up against the maximum points league leaders and Champions League holders.

“I don’t want to look at this game with our players starry eyed,” he told the Daily Mail. “(I don’t want them) speaking to their players before and “can I swap shirts” and “any chance of signing this?” We’re in this game on a level playing field, in terms of a Premier League fixture.”

United are by no means walkovers.

They play an interesting tactical game, where their centre-backs overlap midfielders and put crosses in from deep. Wilder demands intensity, and it helped down Everton at Goodison Park last weekend.

There are no real standout players, but Wilder’s management has made them a respectable and difficult outfit, especially at Brammall Lane.

Luckily, Liverpool’s first-choice players should mostly be fit, as Jurgen Klopp rested all of them midweek for the EFL Cup tie victory over MK Dons.

So although the game is the early Saturday kick-off, a time Klopp traditionally cannot stand, there’s no injuries (bar Alisson) and there shouldn’t be any excuses for a performance than lacks dynamism.

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