West Brom vs Sheffield United – Premier League: live score, lineups and updates

Chris Wilder has far more important things to worry about than a few jibes from Jurgen Klopp. When Premier League survival is at stake, it is safe to assume that being called ‘selfish’ by the Liverpool manager is pretty low on his priority list.

Far more crucial for Wilder is to secure a third consecutive season of Premier League football for Sheffield United and after this latest defeat, at the hands of fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion, that looks an increasingly tall order.

In a game of numerous chances for both sides, a 13th-minute strike from Conor Gallagher – his first Premier League goal – allowed West Brom to claim their opening league victory of the season, though Slaven Bilic’s side rode their luck in the second half and needed a superb performance from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who made a number of excellent saves.

Conor Gallagher’s 13th minute strike was the difference at the Hawthorns in a vital victory

The young forward lurked on the edge of the area before slotting past Aaron Ramsdale in goal

The Chelsea loanee jumped for joy after breaking the deadlock and setting his side on course

The result takes Albion to six points ahead of next weekend’s home game against Crystal Palace, with United stuck at the bottom on one point. No side has ever survived in the top flight with a such a low total from their opening 10 games.

Both sides approached the match lacking points and confidence and yet United – despite their poor opening to the season – made a purposeful start.

Oliver Burke could have given them the lead less than 30 seconds into the match when he found himself clear after hesitation in the Albion defence, only to rush his volley inside the box.

It was enough to rattle Slaven Bilic’s side, though, and Branislav Ivanovic was soon booked for a wild hack at Oliver McBurnie.

Darnell Furlong had a golden chance to kill the game late on but headed over the crossbar

George Baldock should have pulled Sheffield United back into the tie but blazed over

The Blades couldn’t make the free-kick count, though, and it was a similar story when John Fleck, unmarked on the edge of the box, shot well wide following more poor defending.

United could have been two up inside five minutes, and they created an even better opportunity moments later. Burke, who arrived from West Brom during the window with Callum Robinson going the other way, sped past Kyle Bartley and pulled the ball back for George Baldock. The wing-back’s aim was true but between them Conor Townsend and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone scrambled the ball away.

It was time for West Brom to wake up and they took the lead after their first dangerous attack. Karlan Grant was denied by Aaron Ramsdale after he had run on to Matheus Pereira’s lofted pass, and when Pereira’s corner was headed only to the edge of the box, Gallagher drove it through the crowd and into the corner.

The Chelsea loanee will have struck many a cleaner ball in his career yet Ramsdale saw the ball late and could not move across in time.

Bilic gave his side a pep talk while Grant was receiving treatment and they improved as the half wore on. More uncertain work at the back let in Pereira, whose low shot from 20 yards when just wide. Then, in the 34th minute, Darnell Furlong’s header found Grant inside the six-yard box. Ramsdale did well to block the shot and Baldock equally so to knock the loose ball behind, though Grant really should have scored.

As the Blades piled forward, a quick counter attack saw Baldock lunge to clear off the line

Oliver Burke was a constant menace for the Baggies defence but could not find the target

Blades breathed again and began to threaten once more. Berge ran from midfield and on to the wrong side of Bartley before sending an angled effort just too high.

The game continued to entertain and Pereira, who was finding plenty of space just behind Grant and Robinson, collected a return pass from Furlong just before half-time and fired narrowly wide.

As they had the first half, United started the second period brightly though this time, they failed to threaten the home defence, and instead it was Albion who came closer to a second.

Pereira swung over the corner from the left and Bartley met it with a fierce downward header that Ramsdale did very well to keep out.

The visitors were struggling to contain Pereira. With another clever pass, the Brazilian released Robinson, who was brought down by John Egan on the edge of the box. Pereira flicked the ball over the wall and Ramsdale, hopping across his goal, was relieved to see it drop over.

Prior to kick-off both sides observed a minute of silence for the late Diego Maradona

A thick fog hung in the air in what was a cold and misty evening in the Midlands

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had a vigorous warm-up and went on to play a huge role in the tie

Baldock then should have equalised after opening the Albion defence with a clever exchange with Burke, only to shoot well over from 10 yards. Burke had been his side’s most incisive attacker all night and the United bench were outraged when referee Mike Dean failed to award him a free-kick for what looked a clear trip by Bartley.

With Wilder urging his side to ‘be brave’, United took a clever free-kick that released Fleck inside the box. His cut-back was perfect for McBurnie at the near post but Johnstone, in a perfect position, kept the ball out with his foot.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper thwarted the same player again moments later, pushing away his rising drive from 15 yards to keep his side in the lead, though they were visibly tiring.

Albion craved a second goal and substitute Hal Robson-Kanu thought he had found the answer with a fierce left-footer that Ramsdale moved quickly to stop. Moments later, Pereira clipped a delightful ball to the far post for the charging Furlong, who failed to keep his header on target.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Lys Mousset somehow scooped the ball over the top from two yards after fellow sub Rhian Brewster’s initial shot had been blocked.

Scroll below to re-live the live coverage with Sportsmail’s Danny Gallagher from the Hawthorns.