Liverpool suffered more than expected to win bottom team Sheffield United (3-1), with two goals in the second half that put the Anfield team back in the lead this Thursday (4), in the 31st round of the Premier League in which Chelsea achieved an epic comeback over Manchester United (4-3).
Argentine Alexis Mac Allister (76′) and Dutch Cody Gakpo (90′) delighted the local fans in the final stretch of a match in which Liverpool were less superior and brilliant than usual.
“Our game wasn’t good until the substitutions. We have to admit it. Sometimes we need to change games on the bench when it’s necessary. With that I’m very happy,” said coach Jürgen Klopp.
In the table, Liverpool regained the lead, now with 70 points, two more than Arsenal (2nd, 68 points) and three more than Manchester City (3rd, 67), current three-time champions.
The three teams that occupy the ‘podium’ thus won the duels of this mid-week round, the 31st, thus maintaining the suspense a month and a half before the championship’s outcome.
Arsenal and Manchester City had put pressure on Liverpool with their respective victories on Wednesday against Luton (2-0) and Aston Villa (4-1), but the Reds also responded with a victory.
Liverpool opened the scoring this Thursday with a dose of luck, in the 17th minute, when a mistake by goalkeeper Ivan Grbic when trying to clear it was taken advantage of by Uruguayan Darwin Núñez, who made it 1-0.
Sheffield United, who have the worst offensive numbers in this Premier League, responded by equalizing in the second half (59′) with a goal from Conor Bradley when he tried to head away.
The 1-1 draw raised Liverpool’s fears but Mac Allister gave his team back the lead with a bomb in the 76th minute. His goal put the hosts back on track for the title and confirmed the world champion player’s great form with Argentina in 2022 as he has scored three goals and provided four assists in the last six Premier League games.
With a header, Gakpo closed the score at 3-1 in the 90th minute, finishing off a cross from Andy Robertson.
Liverpool will, therefore, arrive as leaders for Sunday’s game, in the 32nd round, in which they will compete in the emblematic ‘Northwest Derby’ against Manchester United, at Old Trafford.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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