Sheffield United kicked off the new Premiership season with a lunchtime encounter with Liverpool. The Blades made a promising return to the top flight after a 12-year absence with a creditable 1-1 draw against the third favourites for the title Liverpool who needed a contested penalty to steal a point after United had led with a Rob Hulse goal shortly after half-time.

The Blades have invested during the summer break by bringing in defender and record signing Claude Davis from Preston for 3 million pounds along with striker Rob Hulse who signed from Leeds for 2.1 million. Though Davis was unable to make his debut for his new club having picked up a knee injury in pre-season.

With the stadium looking Premiership class with it's new Westfield Corner Stand and a crowd boasting twenty thousand plus season ticket holders, the visit of Liverpool on the opening day of the season provided a party atmosphere but the home team were keen to make it business as usual as they strove to earn at least a point on the day.

There was little to choose between the sides in the opening half, though perhaps United were slightly restricted with Neil Warnock selecting Hulse as a lone striker with Webber offering support from a wide midfield position. Craig Bellamy making his Premiership debut for Liverpool looked threatening and forced Kenny to save when he shot from a narrow angle as the Blades keeper poked the ball round a post. Then following a set piece from the visitors Kenny had to react quickly to save Chris Armstrong's misdirected clearance from close in.

Early in the second half United took the lead within seconds of the restart as Rob Hulse rose salmon-like to head home an excellently delivered free kick from David Unsworth.

Liverpool responded and came close to levelling within minutes when Sami Hyypia hit a post with a headed following a Stephen Gerrard corner.

The visitors looked increasing likely to find an equaliser but the Blades defended resolutely as Liverpool kept the pressure on as Gerrard became more influential. On the mid point in the second half a dangerous cross was met by Bellamy's head but Kenny produced another valuable save.

With twenty minutes left on the clock a Liverpool move produced a chance for Gerrard who made Kenny save again, however referee Rob Styles brought the play back and awarded a penalty judging that Gerrard was impeded by Morgan inside the box. The penalty decision appeared dubious as replays suggested that Morgan made little contact with the Liverpool captain.

Hulse heads home	Fowler fires home from spot

Robbie Fowler converted from the spot firing to Kenny's right. While perhaps the visitors were worthy of a point from the game overall United were unlucky to lose out due to the referee's intervention.

My view in summary: Before the game we would have taken a draw but with the circumstances surrounding Liverpool's goal we were unlucky not to take all three points. However it is important to pick up points against every side in this division including the likes of Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool. So overall a good result.

Referee Rob Styles tried to cover up his error when he virtually admitted in a post match interview for Match of the Day that there was no contact for the penalty incident by Morgan on Gerrard, but he still awarded a penalty as he believed that United's captain had "intent" to bring Gerrard down. Having watched the TV footage of the incident it is impossible to know whether Morgan intended to play the ball or the man so surely the only issue is whether there was any contact. As there wasn't any the penalty should not have been given.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Geary, Unsworth, Bromby (Leigertwood 74), Morgan, Tonge, Jagielka, Ifill (Gillespie 60), Armstrong, Hulse (Akinbiyi 85), Webber.?Unused subs: Sommeil, Nade.

Liverpool: Reina, Kromkamp, Hyypia, Riise (Gonzalaz 26), Gerrard, Fowler (Pennant 83), Aurelio, Bellamy, Sissoko, Carragher (Agger 34), Zenden.?Unused subs: Dudek, Crouch.