A poor performance, but three vital points to take Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League. Late goals from Cody Gakpo, and a thunderous strike by man of the match, Alexis Mac Allister securing a 3-1 victory against a determined, if awful, Sheffield United.
Liverpool, who could and should have been behind inside the first minute, took an early lead through the energy and enterprise of Darwin Nunez. Closing down Gbirc’s clearance, the ball rebounded into the net. Lady luck played a part in settling the palpable early nerves inside Anfield.
However, a strange lack of focus and intensity, which should have led to the Blades scoring at the back post in the opening seconds, continued to infect Liverpool’s performance. Perhaps possession was too easy. Perhaps the wet weather blunted the intensity. Whatever it was, there was not enough movement, too many touches, they were playing too narrow. It was poor, but Liverpool went into half-time with a lead.
Jurgen Klopp presumably got into his players in the dressing room, but the opening minutes of the second period showed that only a change of personnel would bring the energy and purpose necessary. However, before Klopp could bring on both Harvey Elliot and Andy Robertson, Sheffield United equalised. A half-hearted attempt at a tackle by a below-par Joe Gomez on the touchline led to a cross that somehow squirmed into the net via Conor Bradley, from Gustavo Hamer’s header.
The substitutions by Klopp, not for the first time, changed the game. Robertson gave the side width, whilst Elliot, again brought an energy that infected those around him in red.
It did though need something special to change the course of the game, and perhaps the destiny of the title. The twenty-yard strike from Mac Allister was certainly special, Gerrardesque in its accuracy and ferocity, and the relief in Anfield was tangible.
A second leveller from Sheffield United, though never likely, couldn’t be ruled out, and it took a late header from Gakpo to seal the points. Robertson, providing the width that was so obviously lacking early on, supplying the pin point cross for the Dutchman to score in front of the Kop.
So Liverpool head to Old Trafford on Sunday, having again got over the line without playing their best. They will though be playing after both Arsenal and City once again. It’s now a sprint to the line, and they may well have to win all eight remaining league games to secure their twentieth title.
