Sheff Utd 0-2 Liverpool: Below-par Reds takes the spoils in Wilder's first game back in charge at Bramall Lane

Liverpool spoiled Chris Wilder's return to Sheffield United with a 2-0 win at Bramall Lane thanks to goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai, bringing the Reds back within two points of leaders Arsenal.

Van Dijk scored from a corner in the 37th minute, and Szoboszlai sealed the victory in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time for his second Premier League goal.

Despite dominating possession early on, Liverpool was fortunate not to fall behind in the first ten minutes.

Joe Gomez, who started at left back in place of Konstantinos Tsimikas, was dispossessed on the halfway line by Cameron Archer. Archer passed the ball to James McAtee, who was denied by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Instead, Liverpool took the lead thanks to Van Dijk's first Premier League goal of the season.

After being left unmarked in the penalty area, the Liverpool centre-back had the simple task of converting Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner from 10 yards.

Wes Foderingham made a brilliant save to deny Mohamed Salah's right-footed volley from a corner in the second half to keep Sheff Utd in the game.

Foderingham was then called into action again, this time sprinting out of his goal to stop substitute Darwin Nunez from sliding the ball through his legs.

However, Szoboszlai sealed the victory in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, lashing the ball into the roof of the net from Nunez's cross.

Liverpool now has 34 points, just two points behind Arsenal. Sheff Utd are still rooted to the bottom of the table with five points.

SportsLigue