Burnley. Fulham. Tottenham. Southampton. Chelsea. Cardiff. Huddersfield. Newcastle. Wolves. Norwich. Southampton again. Arsenal. Burnley again. Newcastle again. Chelsea again. Sheffield United.

All beaten. Some convincingly, some in closer style, but all with the same outcome. Three points.

It is 16 successive league wins for Liverpool, a sequence none of their 18 title-winning teams managed, a run that only Manchester City have ever bettered. A sweet 16? “It’s the media who love statistics,” said a matter-of-fact Virgil van Dijk. “The reality is we have nothing at the moment.”

Perhaps, when Jurgen Klopp referred to his side as “mentality giants”, what he meant was their capacity to develop a winning habit and yet sound nonplussed by the sort of figures that are beyond the comprehension of most.

The centre-back was channelling his manager. Klopp can deal more in emotions than facts. He is more a people person than a mathematical mind. “I try to understand how other people think about things but from the way I think about things, I’m not interested in the number, to be honest,” he said. “It’s just a number.”

Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Show all 22 1 /22 Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Sheffield vs Liverpool player ratings Soccer Football - Premier League - Sheffield United v Liverpool - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - September 28, 2019 Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring their first goal with Roberto Firmino as Sheffield United's Dean Henderson and team mates look dejected Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Dean Henderson - 4 Sheffield United's English goalkeeper Dean Henderson reacts during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool George Baldock - 6 Liverpool's Andrew Robertson, left, and Sheffield United's George Baldock run for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool John Egan - 7 Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) tangles with Sheffield United's Irish defender John Egan (R) during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Jack O'Connell - 7 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Sadio Mane of Liverpool competing with Jack O'Connell of Sheffield Unitedduring the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Andrew Powell Liverpool FC via Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Enda Stevens - 6 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Joel Matip of Liverpool battles for possession with Enda Stevens of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool John Lundstram - 6 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: John Lundstram of Sheffield United reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Chris Basham - 6 Sheffield United's English defender Chris Basham (R) tangles with Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Ollie Norwood - 6 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Match referee Anthony Taylor speaks to Ollie Norwood of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Laurence Griffiths Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool John Fleck - 6 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: John Fleck of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Callum Robinson - 6 Sheffield United's Callum Robinson reacts during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday September 28, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Sheff Utd. Photo credit should read: Richard Sellers/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Richard Sellers PA Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Oliver McBurnie - 6 Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie reacts after missing a chance to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Adrian - 7 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Adrian of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6 Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold plays during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Joel Matip - 7 Liverpool's Joel Matip, right, duels for the ball with Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie during the English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Virgil van Dijk - 7 Soccer Football - Premier League - Sheffield United v Liverpool - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - September 28, 2019 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk adjusts the captain's armband after receiving it from Jordan Henderson Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Andrew Robertson - 6 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool (obscured) celebrates with teammates Roberto Firmino and Andy Robertson after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Laurence Griffiths Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Jordan Henderson - 6 Liverpool's English midfielder Jordan Henderson eyes the ball during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Gigi Wijnaldum - 7 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates with teammate Roberto Firmino after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Laurence Griffiths Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Sadio Mane - 6 SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Sadio Mane of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool FC at Bramall Lane on September 28, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Mo Salah - 6 Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah reacts during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: Sheffield vs Liverpool Roberto Firmino - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Sheffield United v Liverpool - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - September 28, 2019 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino reacts Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters

He had a similar reaction to Gini Wijnaldum’s winner, a rare occasion when a Liverpool midfielder found the net. “I couldn’t tell you the number they have scored,” Klopp said, even though the number in question is one goal this season, given that James Milner has only struck when playing left-back.

But, as with the prospect of making history. Klopp is unconcerned by the grander narrative. Instead he borrows from the cliché of taking each game as it comes. “There’s always a story you can create,” he rationalised. “In our case, it’s always about how many games we’ve won. You only can create a streak like this if you’re always in the next job.”

Those next jobs are among the toughest. Only five of those 16 triumphs have come against teams who finished in the top 12 of last season’s Premier League. Those next three domestic opponents are Leicester, Manchester United and Tottenham. “Interesting games coming up,” mused Klopp, casting doubt on their chances of relieving City of their record. “It doesn’t sound too likely.”

If one reflex is to say that Liverpool will need to perform better than they did at Bramall Lane to secure three rather higher-profile scalps, another is to say that 16 victories have to come in a variety of ways. Sheffield United were beaten more by a triumph of character than an explosion of quality. There was luck to Wijnaldum’s winner, donated by United goalkeeper Dean Henderson. But there was defiance to Van Dijk, who showed a commanding magnetism to blunt the Blades.

“I definitely enjoy the hostile atmosphere,” the Dutchman said. “That’s something we should all enjoy and we fought hard for the three points. You need to adapt in every game and we had a lot of battles with them.”

For Klopp, too, it was a test of adaptability. United’s 3-5-2 system brings a unique challenge. “They played completely differently,” the German said. “We had to play constantly around the formation.” By the time Leicester arrive at Anfield on Saturday, Liverpool will have gone seven months without dropping a point. Much of that has been about finding a way to win and Klopp unveiled another tactic in an attempt to release Roberto Firmino from the shackles United imposed, introducing Divock Origi and dropping the Brazilian into the No. 10 position. The Blades’ initial gameplan is one others may seek to emulate.

Jurgen Klopp is refusing to get carried away (Getty)

“We had to have a balance, we have to have a plan, to have stability,” United manager Chris Wilder reflected. “It is a disciplined formation and everyone has to get their distance right. If I had turned this into a game of basketball, we would have got murdered.”

Instead, he got an audience with a man he admires: Klopp. “It is great sitting down with him,” Wilder said. “He is open and that is quite refreshing because I don’t get that feel that quite a few managers in the Premier League want to do that. He is a right down-to-earth guy.”