Alexis Mac Allister scored a worldie as Liverpool beat Sheffield United 3-1 in the Premier League
Liverpool hosted bottom-of-the-league Sheffield United at Anfield as they looked to regain their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League (PL) table.
Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp made two changes to the starting eleven that beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 on Sunday – with Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch returning in place of Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo.
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United have had a season to forget following their promotion under Paul Heckingbottom in 2022-23. The Blades had collected just 15 points from their first 29 PL games this season and look set to be relegated.
It was a slow start for the title chasers at Anfield as Sheffield United created an opening to score inside the first 35 seconds. It was a decent chance for James McAtee (on loan from Manchester City, no less), but the young Englishman saw his side–footed effort saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool would eventually find the breakthrough through a howler from the visitor’s goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, who gifted the ball to Darwin Nunez after strong pressing from the Uruguayan.
As has been the story for the Reds for the past few weeks, Liverpool weren’t able to kill the game when they had the chances, and took a slender 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Yet again, Liverpool failed to start on the front foot and this time they were punished in the second half. McAtee delivered a ball into the back post where Gustavo Hamer headed down, only for Conor Bradley to turn into his own net.
The Blades had found an equaliser, and with little over 15 minutes left in the match, Liverpool were at risk of dropping valuable points to the team bottom of the table.
Up steps Alexis Mac Allister, who has been a revolutionary addition into the Reds’ midfield this season, but especially in the past month. Andy Robertson flashed a low ball across the box, which was cleared by Anel Ahmedhodzic. The clearance fell to Mac Allister on the edge of the box and he rifled the ball into the top corner. It was Steven Gerrard-esque.
For the second match running, it was squeaky bum time at Anfield. A one goal lead with minutes to go, knowing that a win would take the Reds back to the summit of the PL with eight games to go.
And it would be Cody Gakpo to regain his goal-scoring touch as he glanced in Liverpool’s third with a proper striker’s finish. The goal to seal the three points and keep hearts calm until the next match.
Liverpool have now recorded 26 goals in the PL after the 76th minute – 10 more than any other side in the competition.
Another heart-in-mouth match finishes, with attentions immediately turning to Old Trafford as the Reds return to Manchester United, this time in the PL.
Kick-off is at 3.30pm on Sunday, 7 April.
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez (Gakpo 73), Szoboszlai (Jones 73), Mac Allister, Gravenberch (Robertson 60), Salah (Elliott 60), Nunez, Diaz.
Sheffield United team: Grbic, Holgate (Slimane 87), Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Bogle, Arblaster, Vini Souza, Hamer (Osborn 62), Trusty (Brooks 78), McAtee (McBurnie 63), Brereton Diaz (Osula 63).
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