'I thought they had turned a corner against Liverpool' . . . 'I think they will be fine going forward' - what former Tottenham Hotspur star and other pundits said after Sheffield United's defeat at Chelsea

Chris Wilder’s men have lost seven of their opening eight league games this season, although three of those losses have come against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and the Blues.

At Stamford Bridge on Saturday, struggling United began the game brightly and stunned their hosts by taking a ninth minute lead through David McGoldrick before Lampard’s side eventually coasted to victory to move up to fifth place – three points behind early pacesetters Leicester City.

Speaking after the defeat, the Blades manager said: "Everyone is an expert at times like this, when it’s not going well. You just have to stick your chest out, fight through it and get through it. And, do you know what? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we do, because I know what these lads are like. It really wouldn’t surprise me at all.

“The next 10 games, we need points on the table. We need to do that to establish a foothold in the competition. If we don’t do well, then it won’t be enough to get us out of the situation we are in, because of the opposition we are coming up against.

“But our season won’t be decided by matches like this one.”

But what did the pundits make of United’s latest setback? Let’s take a look.

Jermaine Jenas, former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and Match of the Day pundit

"Injuries have really hurt them and the new players are struggling, but as a whole and as a collective as a team – which was their biggest strength last year – they were nowhere near it in terms of competing.

“There’s a lot of panic in the team. They actually started the game really well but they just got worse and worse as the game went on. They weren’t conceding simple goals last season and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought they had turned a corner against Liverpool, but he (Chris Wilder) has got a lot of work to do.”

Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit

Speaking during commentary about ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale after Ben Chilwell had put Chelsea 2-1 ahead, he said: "I mean it's two yards out from the line.

"The goalkeeper has got to do so much more, he's got to be out there and be commanding.

"It almost hits Chilwell, he looks a bit frightened himself going in there and it hits him, he doesn't want to get sandwiched between defender and goalkeeper.

"He's got to be so much more commanding there Ramsdale."

And on United’s poor start to the season, Carragher said: “They feel it with no crowd. Empty stadiums affect different teams in different ways, but the atmosphere (at Bramall Lane) was electric at times there last season. It’s one of those places you look at and think it’s a real hostile place to go, great atmosphere. There’s a real energy for the team from the terraces. It’s a real disadvantage for them this season with no home supporters.”

Graeme Souness, ex-Liverpool midfielder and manager and Sky Sports pundit

“As Chris (Wilder) said, they're playing against a team that has spent, world-class players and are expected to win trophies. That's not Sheffield United.

"For them, it's about being in the Premier League. I see them doing that, they have got off to a terrible start. If you break the game down tonight, the first goal, Tammy (Abraham) chops it into the ground, Ramsdale might save that on another day.

"The second goal, Ben Chilwell knew nothing about it so if you get in at 1-0 up, these are big ifs here but the fourth goal, Max Lowe blocks tackles and it puts Werner one v one with the goalkeeper. These things are going against them at the moment.

"My advice to him would be 'don't beat yourself up'. They will get criticism, you mustn't listen to that and you have to appeal to the big players to stand up and be counted.

"I think he has an honest group, I think they will be fine going forward. They're just looking for a little bit of luck to come their way at a vital time."

Gary Lineker, former Barcelona and England striker and Match of the Day presenter

“They have got one point from eight games. Only two teams have ever actually managed to stay up (after that start) – Southampton in ‘99 and Sunderland in 2014.”

Tim Cahill, ex-Everton and Australia midfielder and Match of the Day pundit

"I worry for them a bit, but I think they have got enough in the locker with the manager. He’s got a lot of character, he’ll be hurting now and he’ll want to put that right straight away.”

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