Chris Wilder laments cruel loss for Sheffield United

United, without a win so far this term, took a shock and controversial lead from the spot on 13 minutes when Sander Berge netted a penalty after VAR assistant referee Andre Marriner deemed that Fabinho's challenge on Oli McBurnie was inside the box and took the player instead of the ball - when replays suggested otherwise.

The Blades had chances to make it 2-0 before the hosts levelled before the break through Roberto Firmano and a 64th-minute header from Diogo Jota completed the comeback on a night when the visitors produced a hugely heartening performance in which they were unlucky not to take a point.

Wilder said: "It was certainly a better performance than when we came here last year and while we are after three points in every game, it is the Premier League and I don't think Liverpool have been beaten for about 17 years at home apparently....

"There was a team who came into the game on one point against a team packed full of world-class players and I was delighted to see us stick our noses in front and I thought we had a really good start to the game.

"The longer the game went on, we stayed in the game. The timing of the first goal was really disappointing from our point of view and we could have done better with that one and certainly with the second one and we certainly could have done better with the positions we got in at the top end of the pitch as we got into some fabulous positions. They found that last ball and finish and we didn't.

"Attitude wise, right to the end, we were not feeling sorry for ourselves and there were no white flags up. But this division is ruthless and cruel and it is a cruel one to take.

"We were involved in a tight game and they had more possession and control of the game, but I did not think it was one-way traffic.

On the hotly-contested VAR penalty decision, Wilder observed: "I thought it was. I have been informed that there might have been a couple of others as well. We were at the top end of the pitch and asked questions of their players.

"I thought the reaction of their players to the challenge when both of their players put their arms up in the air was quite telling. But the overall performance between box to box was good and I thought the shape of the team was good and I thought some individuals were outstanding.

"Ethan (Ampadu) coming into the middle of the park gave us a mobility and got around the pitch for us. They gave me everything and they cannot feel too down."