'This won't break us': Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder's bold pledge ahead of Saturday's visit to Liverpool

United travel to Liverpool on Saturday still searching for their first win of the new campaign, having suffered four straight defeats ahead of last weekend’s draw with fellow strugglers Fulham.

The reigning Premier League champions, Jurgen Klopp’s side won both of their games against United last term, although they benefited from a slice of good fortune en route to a narrow victory in South Yorkshire.

Earlier this week, Wilder came out fighting in defence of his players, insisting they “don’t deserve” some of the criticism they have received of late and highlighting the gulf in financial resources between United and other top-flight clubs.

It is a message he put across again ahead of the trip to the North-West, saying: “We are a really tight group that will stick together and fight through this. That’s what the lads are like and that’s what they are doing. The same as all of us.”

Despite those bold words, Wilder acknowledges United must produce the performance of their lives if they are to beat opponents with the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at their disposal - particularly as they are set to be without Jack O’Connell, John Fleck, Lys Mousset and Max Lowe. O’Connell and Mousset are both recovering from surgery, while Lowe (suspected concussion) and Fleck (back) also require treatment.