Sheffield United star hopes to continue a famous Scottish tradition at Anfield

Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Graham Souness and Ian St John are among those to excel in Liverpool colours after continuing a tradition started by George ‘Dod’ Allan 123 years ago.

Tomorrow night, another player from north of the border hopes to follow in their footsteps. Albeit for Sheffield United rather than the Premier League leaders.

John Fleck, previously of Glasgow Rangers, has been in superb form since helping Chris Wilder’s side win promotion last term; regularly producing the type of commanding displays which once saw him christened ‘The Tartan Wayne Rooney’. Although comparisons with the former England international are both inaccurate and unwelcome - Fleck distancing himself from the analogy as a youngster at Ibrox - it would not be stretching the truth to suggest he must live-up to this billing if Chris Wilder’s side are to inflict a first top-flight defeat of the season on Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Fleck’s fellow midfielder Mo Besic is convinced he can, noting how his team mate excelled during Sunday’s match at Manchester City against the likes of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Kevin de Bruyne.

“Flecky is a really good player,” Besic said. “He showed that there but he showed it before as well. He plays our system really well and he has done for years. We’re happy to have him and hopefully he can get even better going forward. I’m sure he can.”

It was in September, during Liverpool’s visit to Bramall Lane, when Fleck truly confirmed he boasts the technique and tenacity to trouble the very best in the business. Klopp’s men won, after a defensive error allowed Georginio Wijnaldum to claim the only goal of the contest during the closing stages. But Fleck was named man of the match, having made his presence felt at both ends of the pitch throughout an absorbing contest.

Despite the scoreline, that fixture proved to be a Eureka moment for United too. Regarded as certainties for relegation at the start of the campaign, the self-belief they took from competing with the reigning European champions proved the catalyst for an impressive run of form which has seen them prepare for the return ranked eighth in the table.

Fleck’s partnership with Oliver Norwood and John Fleck, who hopes to face his hometown club after receiving treatment for the injury which ruled him out of the trip to the Etihad Stadium, has been key to that success.

“I think we’ve adapted really well to the Premier League,” Besic, on loan from Everton, said. “It’s a really good team but I think we can do even better. We have been unlucky in some games.”

The meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side was one of those, with United, the dominant force at the time, seeing a Lys Mousset strike controversially disallowed for offside before referee Chris Kavanagh impeded Fleck as he was about to receive possession during the build-up to the first of City’s two goals.

Earlier in the day, Liverpool enjoyed a slice of VAR good fortune themselves during a narrow victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. But, having established a 13 point lead at the top of the table, there can be little doubt Klopp’s squad is the best in the division.

Besic, who is expected to make only his fourth start for United if Lundstram fails a fitness test, is confident losing to City has not dented confidence ahead of arguably their toughest test of the season so far.

“I think we could have had four to six more points than we have at this stage,” he said. “It’s our first season up here for a while and we just need to keep improving. We go to Liverpool, as always, with the mindset of winning the game.”