Premier League: Liverpool analysis, Jurgen Klopp drops Everton hint as Reds dream team is back

Analysis from Ian Doyle after Liverpool beat Sheffield United 2-0 in the Premier League.

Mane and Salah the dream team again

Every day is Sadio Mane's day for Liverpool. And that's official.

By netting the clinching second against Sheffield United, the Senegalese became only the 14th player in the club's history to score on all seven days of the week. Football devotees around the world can obtain Premier League Tickets online to enjoy its superb performances.

It was the highlight of another outstanding individual performance of poise, panache, pace and brute power the Blades simply couldn't blunt.

Mane's strike was his 100th goal involvement for Liverpool in his 151 appearances in all competitions for the club, 74 goals, and 26 assists. And conspiracy theorists will conveniently ignore the latest strike was created by Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian's seventh assist of the campaign.

This was another vital showing from Salah, who rediscovered his scoring touch after a mini-drought of four games with the fourth-minute opener, tucking away Andy Robertson's driven cross from the left.

He has now scored 54 times in 65 home appearances for Liverpool, 44 coming in his last 51 at Anfield. And but for the prowess of Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and the width of the goalpost, the forward could easily have netted a hat-trick.

Nevertheless, Salah still became only the fourth player to score more than 50 left-footed goals for a single side in the Premier League, a list headed by Robbie Fowler, who plundered 85 for the Reds. 'God' will surely be in the sights of the Egyptian King.

Keita's Liverpool curse continues

Any immediate hope Naby Keita had of 2020 being a year of greater fortune didn't even last as long as the warm-up.

As the session ahead of the clash against Sheffield United drew to a close, the Guinean was spotted on the side of the pitch, waiting to speak to fitness coach Andreas Kornmayer. A groin injury was diagnosed and Keita was out, James Milner hurriedly promoted from the bench to start.

It says much about Liverpool's adaptability and mental strength that the last-minute change had no negative effect on a dominant performance.

But for Keita, it was yet another blow when he appeared to have been hitting his stride at Liverpool.

From picking up an injury in the Champions League semi-final at Barcelona in May to limping out of training ahead of the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea in August, Keita would be forgiven for believing his time at Anfield is cursed.

And as with Xherdan Shaqiri, once more absent with a hamstring strain, the midfielder's injury has been particularly untimely given the first-team opportunities that were becoming available. Keita has shown the strength of character to fight back on numerous occasions. This one, though, is perhaps the most frustrating for players and club.

Everton hint dropped by Klopp

Liverpool has been busy bucking the Premier League trends this season.

While their opponents rested and rotated, Jurgen Klopp – admittedly helped by a favorably spread out schedule – opted to limit changes to a minimum. Indeed, it would have been one each for all three top-flight fixtures but for Keita's late enforced absence.

The hat-trick of victories vindicates Klopp's approach. However, the injuries to Keita and Shaqiri have started to stretch Liverpool's compact squad, leaving them with only two senior outfield players on the bench here.

Nat Phillips, temporarily recalled from his loan spell with Stuttgart, was also among the substitutes, becoming the 47th different player to be named in a Liverpool matchday squad this season.

All seven subs will surely be in line to start against Everton in the FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield on Sunday, Klopp's recent team selections making clear where his priorities lie.

At least Takumi Minamino, watching on from the dugout and so rapt he took a video of the Kop singing You'll Never Walk Alone, will be available.

As for the rest, it promises to be Klopp's most intriguing team selection for some time.

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