Liverpool 3-1 Sheffield United - Alexis Mac Allister rocket sends Liverpool top of Premier League
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Updated 04/04/2024 at 21:54 GMT+1
A stunning rocket of a shot from Alexis Mac Allister sent Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League thanks to a 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Thursday at Anfield. Darwin Nunez and a late one from Cody Gakpo were the other goals for the home side whilst a Conor Bradley own-goal had briefly threatened to make things very nervy for the home faithful at Anfield.
'Liverpool aren't going anywhere in this title race!' – Reds roar back with Mac Allister screamer
Liverpool required a second-half fightback to see off a spirited Sheffield United and restore their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 3-1 win on Thursday evening.
With the scores level as the clock ticked on to 76 minutes, it was midfielder Alexis Mac Allister who lifted the roof off Anfield with a rocket of a shot from the edge of the box that pinged into the top corner.
And Cody Gakpo’s late header wrapped up the win that puts Liverpool two points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp’s side looked on their way to victory from the moment that Darwin Nunez charged down Ivo Grbic’s sloppy clearance to open the scoring in bizarre fashion.
But Sheffield United worked hard to stay in the game and grabbed an equaliser when Gustavo Hamer’s back-post header deflected in off Connor Bradley to make it 1-1 in the second half.
It looked for a brief period that Liverpool’s dominance on the night was not going to yield the result they so desperately wanted, but Mac Allister and Gakpo ensured that title race remains in Liverpool’s hands as things stand.
Talking Point – Quality throughout Liverpool’s squad
Liverpool’s title challenge rolls on, and it’s the squad’s strength in depth that will give Jurgen Klopp most encouragement after this game.
There were a few rusty performances in the first half, but Klopp was able to call on so much quality from the bench, with a range of different styles of attacking players at his disposal, and Gakpo’s impact being particularly impressive.
A point here would have given Sheffield United a glimmer of hope in their attempt to avoid the drop, and they fought hard all evening, but Liverpool’s quality shone through in the end, and could yet take them to a second title in four years.
Player Of The Match – Alexis Mac Allister
The Liverpool midfielder has been a massive part of his team’s success this season, and he was central to everything good about them on the night.
Of course his stunning goal stands out as the key moment in the match, but he pulled the strings beautifully against a low-block opponent, unlocking a packed defence time and again. And he deserved the second goal that he very nearly got when his free-kick crashed back off the woodwork.
Player Ratings
Liverpool: Kelleher 8; Bradley 7, Konaté 8, Van Dijk 8, Gomez 7; Mac Allister 9, Szoboszlai 6, Gravenberch 6; Salah 6, Díaz 7, Núñez 7. Subs: Robertson 8, Elliott 7, Jones 7, Gakpo 8.
Sheffield United: Grbić 5; Holgate 6, Ahmedhodžić 5, Trusty 5; Bogle 6, Souza 5, Arblaster 5, Hamer 7, Robinson 6; McAtee 5, Brereton Díaz 6. Subs: Osborn 6, McBurnie 5, Osula 5, Ben Slimane 6.
Match Highlights
17’ – GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 SHEFFIELD UNITED (NUNEZ)
What a gift! Grbic takes too long on his clearing kick as Darwin Nunez bears down on him with the press, and the big Liverpool forward blocks the ball and it loops back beyond the keeper and runs across the line as the two sprint towards it. Bizarre. 1-0.
58’ – GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED (OG. BRADLEY)
WHAT A MOMENT! Sheffield United are level at Anfield and it’s Hamer who’s got it. It was a terrific counter-attack, but it needed a flying back-post header from Hamer to make the most of the chance, and his effort flicked off Bradley and beyond a stranded Kelleher. He goes down with cramp to rather dampen the celebration, but it’s a huge goal for the battles at both ends of the table.
76’ – GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED (MAC ALLISTER)
OOF! What a hit that is! A low cross into the box deflects out to the edge of the box, where it is teed up beautifully for Mac Allister to hit… and boy does he hit it! The ball blitzes straight into the top corner, almost ripping the net from the frame of the goal, and the roof very nearly comes off Anfield. 2-1!
90’ – GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED (GAKPO)
It’s all over! Gakpo leaps high in the box to direct his header into the far corner and wrap up the win for Liverpool. It was a lovely ball in from Robertson, and his fellow sub met it with a peach of a header.
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