Liverpool ground out a 3-1 win over bottom-placed Sheffield United to move back above Arsenal and top of the Premier League.
The Reds were made to work hard against the Blades at Anfield, with Chris Wilder’s side proving to be stubborn opposition. Liverpool were gifted an opening goal when Ivo Grbic hit a clearance against Darwin Nunez, the ball rebounding into the open goal in a horrible moment for the Sheffield United goalkeeper.
Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to make their dominance of the ball count after opening the scoring and conceded a 58th-minute equaliser when Gustavo Hamer’s header bounced in off Conor Bradley for an own goal.
Alexis Mac Allister continued his rich vein of form to score the winner, as the World Cup winner unleashed a thunderbolt that flew into the top corner. The midfielder has now provided a goal or assists in each of his last six Premier League appearances.
Cody Gakpo wrapped up the win with a 90th-minute header as the substitute met Andy Robertson’s delivery to nod in the third. The win moves Liverpool two points ahead of Arsenal and three clear of Manchester City with eight games to go.
“We had to dig very deep, but that is normal. Our attitude was good, the football was not great in a lot of moments,” Klopp told the BBC.
“We saw how quick passes can change the game after 60 minutes, Robertson down the line, bam bam bam. Then Macca’s goal [Alexis Mac Allister] was the complete game changer, and it’s a wonderful goal for 3-1 as well. The first goal, Darwin does it by himself.
“They (Sheffield United) 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.”
On Mac Allister’s recent form, Klopp added: “He 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.”
Klopp’s side next travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday, in the knowledge the title race remains in their hands.
Should Liverpool win each of their final eight games of the campaign, Klopp’s final season will end with a second Premier League title success and record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
