Jurgen Klopp reveals the plan he put in place that helped beat Sheffield United

So even he will have been impressed, indeed possibly even flattered to know what Klopp and his staff put into making sure they found a win against the Blades.

Liverpool came out on top, thanks to goals from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, but it was a terrific all-round team display by the champions-elect who Klopp admits were given specific instructions to prevent United playing the flowing, attacking football that has earned them rave reviews this season.

“I did not see a game against Sheffield United where the opponent controlled the game as we did tonight," Klopp said on BT Sport 1.

"That was our plan, to make their life as complicated as possible, that is what we did. We scored some exceptional goals and controlled it.

"How we defended their wings with three players overlapping was really good and cut off a big quality of them, because of that, the game was in complete control, and that is what we wanted."

Wilder conceded afterwards: "They were outstanding, and did not really get out of second or third gear.

"They won every first ball, every second ball, ran forwards and backwards, they did that better than us.

"They are the European champions and are well on the way to being Premier League champions. They were ruthless."