Alexis MacAllister blasted Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League on Thursday, scoring a magnificent goal that spurred a tense 3-1 victory against lowly Sheffield United.
Jurgen Klopp’s team became concerned when Darwin Nunez’s early opening was cancelled out by Conor Bradley’s own goal in the second half.
But Mac Allister calmed the anxieties around Anfield with a superb goal from the edge of the box, and Cody Gakpo clinched the victory in the dying stages.
On a potentially critical evening in the title race, Liverpool moved two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, with eight games remaining for each of the three teams in a thrilling struggle for dominance.
Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Luton pushed Liverpool out of first place on Wednesday, while Manchester City’s 4-1 thrashing of Aston Villa kept them in contention.
However, Liverpool, who have gone unbeaten in their previous 28 home league games, are one step closer to becoming English champions for the 20th time, and first since 2020.
Klopp’s treble chasers have already won the League Cup and play Atalanta in the Europa League quarterfinals, hoping for a grand farewell to the German in his final season.
However, they will need to improve on this shaky performance to keep up with Arsenal and champions City, who are three points behind Liverpool.
Liverpool travel to Manchester United in the league on Sunday for a critical match against their bitter rivals.
The Reds had to come from behind to overcome Brighton last Saturday, but Klopp said he was “calm” as the title race neared its culmination.
Even yet, his heart must have been racing a little quicker than usual when United nearly took a shock lead.
Jack Robinson’s long throw found an unmarked James McAtee in the area, and the Manchester City loanee’s shot forced a reflex stop from Caoimhin Kelleher.
Ben Brereton Diaz nearly poked in at the far post from the following corner, as Liverpool’s defence stood statuesque.
Klopp relief
After 17 minutes, United goalkeeper Ivo Grbic gave Liverpool the lead in an amusing manner.
Grbic was charged down by Nunez after taking much too long to clear on the edge of his area, with the ball hitting the Uruguay striker on the behind as it rolled into an empty net.
Grbic sheepishly took the ball out of the net as Nunez scored his 19th goal in all competitions this season.
Joe Gomez, Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Luis Diaz all came close from long range as Liverpool attempted to land a knockout blow.
But when torrential rain fell on Anfield, the floodgates refused to open, and Liverpool’s territorial domination failed to produce a second goal before halftime.
United, who are at the bottom of the table, have just won three games in a dreadful league season that appears to be headed for relegation.
Nonetheless, they shook Anfield to its core in the 58th minute.
Gustavo Hamer’s wonderful ball found McAtee on the right wing, and he cleverly turned back inside before firing a cross into the box.
Hamer continued his forward run, and his close-range header past Kelleher thanks to a critical deflection off Bradley’s foot.
Klopp responded by abruptly taking Salah off, and Harvey Elliott replaced the Egypt star, whose glum expression and feeble handshake with Klopp revealed his unhappiness with the move.
Andrew Robertson volleyed wide at the far post as Liverpool’s gesticulating Klopp became furious with their lack of success.
But Klopp’s concerns were allayed in the 76th minute, when Robertson’s cross was only cleared to the edge of the box, where MacAllister smashed a blistering strike into the top corner.
Gakpo sealed Liverpool’s hard-fought victory in the 90th minute as he dived to head in Robertson’s cross.