Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took a tongue-in-cheek swipe at title rivals Manchester City by claiming he would rather win eight matches 1-0 than beat a side 8-0.

The Reds scraped past Sheffield United by the slenderest of margins at Bramall Lane after a tough encounter against Chris Wilder’s side.

With City having blown away Watford 8-0 last weekend Klopp was asked how it important it was to be able to grind out 1-0 wins, a victory which made it seven out of seven in the league this season and keep them well clear of Pep Guardiola’s team.

“Eight times 1-0 is more important than one times 8-0 but if you give me a guarantee for it, I take the next eight games,” said the Reds boss.

“We are very critical for ourselves. I said before, is it allowed that Sheffield United fight more than us? No it isn’t.

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. 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“Is it allowed they run more? No. We can play better. I don’t think we had an off-day.”

In truth Liverpool laboured for 70 minutes and it required a huge stroke of luck courtesy of Dean Henderson’s handling error to make the breakthrough.

The on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper was left embarrassed after allowing Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot to slip through his hands and then his legs before creeping over the line.

It allowed Liverpool to extend their winning run to 16 league matches but Klopp knows they were fortunate.

“We had our moments and we started well but then lost the rhythm. It was really difficult, we didn’t accelerate in the right moments. Our passes had not the right speed,” he added.

“All respect to Sheffield United, they did really well over 95 minutes. They have a proper basis to be a really uncomfortable opponent.

“We still had big chances. Unlucky for Sheffield United. If it had been a draw, I would say that is what Sheffield deserved and we deserved.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose. We got three points and we are pretty happy.”