Anfield was tense, Liverpool increasingly desperate, and Sheffield United were surprisingly giving Arsenal and Manchester City an opportunity in the title race.
Alexis Mac Allister sealed the deal brilliantly. Another crucial contribution from the World Cup champion propelled Jürgen Klopp’s squad back to the top of the Premier League as Liverpool maintained their composure and lead once again.
Leaders excel under pressure in a title race, and the composed, talented Argentina midfielder is embracing the challenge of leading Liverpool towards their second Premier League title under Klopp.
Mac Allister has been directly involved in a Liverpool goal in the last six games, scoring four and providing four assists. His most recent goal was the most satisfying in terms of precision, timing, and significance.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60 "Mac Allister's thunderous shot brought Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League 2")
Gary McAllister, fittingly, watched as the 25-year-old expertly found the top corner of Ivo Grbic’s net to put Liverpool back in front after Conor Bradley’s own goal had leveled the score for Sheffield United, threatening an unexpected stumble.
Chris Wilder’s team fighting against relegation put up a strong battle and defended resolutely, with the exception of the goalkeeper error that allowed Darwin Núñez to score the opening goal.
However, they were ultimately defeated by another late surge from Liverpool, with Mac Allister’s 25th-minute goal and Cody Gakpo’s 90th-minute header marking the 26th goal that Klopp’s team has scored in the final 15 minutes of a match this season.
Gakpo’s goal was also the 80th that United have conceded this season. “A World Cup champion and a world-class finish,” as described by the United manager, referring to Mac Allister’s crucial moment.
The match was far from the easy victory that many expected between the top and bottom teams in the league, although Liverpool’s return to the top was aided by an early blunder from Grbic.
The visiting goalkeeper’s mistake not only hurt the team in the moment but also undermined a decent start by the visitors, much to Wilder’s disappointment.