Liverpool 3 Sheff Utd 1
With Arsenal having won the night before, Liverpool needed victory to go back to the top of the Premier League table. With Sheff Utd the visitors to Anfield, this seemed like it would be an easy victory for The Reds in their title challenge.
The visitors started to create chances early on and it was a nervy start to the game for the home fans. A long throw was flicked on in the box and dropped to McAtee only two yards out. As he struck it on the half volley, only a great block by Kelleher could keep the scores level.
Liverpool needed to be wary of the long throw from The Blades. It was no doubt a tactic they were planning to use heavily in the game. Had McAtee scored, it would have been the perfect present for his parent club Man City.
The Reds continued to put pressure on the visitors but were struggling to find a way through. That was until Darwin Nunez looked to press the keeper and his attempted clearance struck the striker and rebounded into the back of the net.
Credit: @LFC
At the business end of the season, it doesn’t matter how the goals come, as long as they keep flowing. Many hoped that Klopp’s side had broken the seal and would now go on to get the comfortable victory they all predicted before the game.
In his new attacking position, Alexis Mac Allister was blossoming into one of the signings of the season. As he received the ball in the middle of the park, he shifted it onto his right foot before trying to bend one in the top corner. With Grbic at full-stretch, it went narrowly wide.
Despite dominating possession, the hosts struggled to get a second goal. Then things turned sour when a cross into the back post was headed by Hamer, struck Bradley and went through the legs of Kelleher to draw the visitors level. Anfield fell silent.
With title challenges at stake, it would be the cruellest way for those dreams to be shattered. An own goal by one of their impressive young talents. Jurgen Klopp rang the changes, to try and freshen things up, including bringing off talisman Mohamed Salah.
At this point, Arsenal and Man City fans up and down the country were celebrating as the team rooted to the bottom of the table seemed to be doing them a favour. All they hoped now, was that they could hold on for the remaining twenty minutes.
Robertson got down the wing and hit a low cross into the box. The Blades tried to hack it clear but it struck Diaz and rolled out towards Mac Allister outside the box. Then came a moment reminiscent to that Steven Gerrard goal against Olympiakos.
Credit: @premierleague
The Argentine struck it first time and may not strike a ball any sweeter. His effort arrowed into the top corner of the goal and the roof almost came off Anfield. If The Reds go on to win the title, this will be one of those pivotal moments that created that triumph.
Mac Allister was brimming with confidence now. As he stepped up to take a free kick outside the box, his shot thundered off the crossbar. So close to sealing all three points for The Reds. Without a third goal, it could prove to be a nervy end to the game.
Robertson then swung a superb cross into the box and it was headed home by Gakpo to ensure that Liverpool were to take all three points. As Anfield erupted into a cauldron of noise once again, fans could dare to dream that this title race was meant to be theirs in the manager’s last season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side held on for the win, taking them back to the top of the Premier League table. Arsenal had just 24 hours at the top of the tree. Liverpool now travel to Old Trafford on the weekend as they look to keep their title charge on track.
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