The key information Sheffield United gleaned from Liverpool's Champions League tie against Ajax

The Sheffield United manager had been looking forward to watching Jurgen Klopp’s side endure a difficult evening in Amsterdam - difficult enough, at least, to force the German to consider resting some of his key players when the South Yorkshire club visits Anfield tomorrow night.

Although Wednesday’s fixture between the two best teams in England and Holland proved to be a delicately poised affair - Nicolas Tagliafico’s 35th minute own goal ensuring Liverpool opened their assault on this season’s tournament with a win - Klopp felt confident enough to withdraw Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane on the hour mark. That bold triple substitution suggests the three attackers, who scored a combined total of 57 goals as United’s latest opponents romped to the Premier League title last term, will all start when Wilder’s men make the journey across the Pennines. Having lost four and drawn one of their first three outings in this season’s competition, United could be forgiven for hoping that Klopp would opt to rest the lethal triumvirate ahead of next week’s Group D meeting with Midtjylland.

"I’d love for us to get a break or a goal, like Liverpool got, and then see the effect that had on the lads,” Wilder, whose side pushed Klopp’s men hard at Bramall Lane last term, said. “The attitude of their players back then, at our place, wasn’t that they were playing Sheffield United so they thought they didn’t have to put it all in. That was echoed by what their manager told me afterwards as well.”

Wilder, who watched Liverpool’s victory over the Dutch on his television at home, has indicated he could make changes to his own line-up in an attempt to spark United into life; although, speaking to journalists on Thursday, he insisted their results have not always reflected performances in recent weeks. The viewing session also provided him with an array of clues as to how Klopp plans to cope without Virgil van Dijk - who like United’s own defensive lynchpin Jack O’Connell, is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Fabinho deputised for van Dijk against Ajax, with Joel Matip left out as a precautionary measure. Like Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, Matip could be recalled to face United, although Fabinho received plenty of plaudits for his display on the continent. Either way, Wilder will have been encouraged to see Liverpool’s communication at the back suffer in van Dijk’s absence, with Gomez and goalkeeper Adrian involved in a mix-up early on. United’s attack, which is expected to include former Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster, will attempt to exploit any more signs of weakness in that particular area. Despite the disruption, Klopp once again employed his preferred 4-3-3 formation and is unlikely to change tact for the meeting with United.

"My job is to give the lads the encouragement and the support they deserve,” Wilder said. “And that’s what I’ll do because they haven’t become a bad team overnight.”

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