Liverpool see off Sheffield United

Liverpool survive a scare to eventually see off Sheffield United at Anfield and eventually move back to the top of the Premier League table on Thursday evening after Arsenal and Manchester City both won last night.

LINEUPS 

LIV XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk*, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz

LIV SUBS: Adrian, Quansah, Tsimikas, Robertson, Clark, Jones, Elliott, Gakpo, Danns

SHU XI: Grbic; Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson*; Bogle, Arblaster, Vinicius Souza, Hamer, Trusty; McAtee; Brereton Diaz

SHU SUBS: Foderingham, Curtis, Larouci, Norwood, Ben Slimane, Brooks, Osborn, McBurnie, Osula

Action: Liverpool spent much of the first 15 minutes of the match actually pretty much on the back foot with Sheffield United showing some signs of genuine promise.

However, it was indeed the Reds who still took an early lead and in comical circumstances. Former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Ivo Grbic went to launch the ball forward from the edge of the box but his clearance was charged down by Darwin Nunez and ended up ballooning in the direction of the empty goal and giving Liverpool the lead.

Liverpool very nearly doubled their lead when some excellent fancy foot work and drive from Luis Diaz was followed by Ryan Gravenberch having a fairly tame effort on goal.

In the second-half, though, Sheffield United once again started well and they earned themselves a shock equaliser in the 58th minute. James McAtee launched a deep cross towards Gustavo Hamer, who headed back across goal but it cannoned off Conor Bradley and beyond Caoimhin Kelleher to make it all square.

Liverpool huffed and puffed for large spells with no real cutting edge but that then changed in the 77th minute when Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister powerfully rifled an effort into the top corner to re-establish the hosts’ lead.

TAKE A BOW, ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER! 🤯🚀

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2024

Liverpool then wrapped up all three points late on when under pressure and heavily criticised Cody Gakpo headed home from an excellent Andrew Robertson cross

The big picture: Liverpool have returned to the top of the Premier League table with their 21st win of the campaign. They are two points clear of Arsenal and three ahead of Manchester City with eight games to go. With 24 points to play for, Sheffield United will begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting ten points adrift with their fate all but sealed. 

Man of the match: Alexis Mac Allister. Becoming Mr Consistent, Mac Allister put in a match winning display from the base of Liverpool’s midfield at Anfield on Thursday evening.

EVENTS

Kick-off

’17 | GOAL: Darwin Nunez (1-0)

Half-time

’58 | GOAL: Bradley [OG] (1-1)

’76 | GOAL: Mac Allister (2-1)

’90 | GOAL: Gakpo (3-1)

Full-time