The title-chasing Reds were gifted a first-half lead after United goalkeeper Ivo Grbic hit Darwin Nunez with an attempted clearance and watched the ball rebound into the net.
Sheffield United equalised against the run of play after half-time through a Gustavo Hamer header which deflected off Conor Bradley and crept past Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
But the hosts were not to be denied a 21st league win of the season and clinched the three points thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s 20-yard screamer and Cody Gakpo’s late header.
The victory at Anfield sends Jurgen Klopp’s side back to the top of the Premier League – two points ahead of Arsenal and three in front of Manchester City with eight games remaining.
Such was Liverpool’s dominance against Sheffield United, the 83.1% possession they enjoyed was the most in a Premier League since Opta began recording this data.
Klopp, entering the final two months of his long and successful Liverpool reign, was understandably pleased with the outcome and described MacAllister’s goal as ‘absolutely insane’.
‘We had to dig very deep, but that is normal,’ he said. ‘Our attitude was good, the football was not great in a lot of moments.
‘They could have scored after 20 seconds, Caoimhin [Kelleher] makes a great save. Sheffield United played how they wanted for 90 minutes. It is difficult, but we could do better, and we did to get the win.
‘Alexis is a really good player, in the first half he was playing six but we knew we could move him slightly higher.
‘Then he scores this kind of goal, the two biggest screamers of the season have come from him. Then the free-kick directly after – absolutely insane, what a player.
