SUPER MAC STRIKES!
Alexis thunderbolt lifts Liverpool and Gakpo seals it after the brave Blades give Klopp’s men an almighty scare
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER looks more of a bargain with each week as he saved Liverpool yet again to keep their title bid on track.
Liverpool were heading towards a damaging draw against bottom club Sheffield United before Mac Allister fired home a thunderbolt 14 minutes from time to settle this nervy clash.
His fourth goal in his last six games took Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League above Arsenal, heading into Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Chuck in three assists with those goals and Mac Allister is driving on Liverpool’s bid for a 20th title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season.
Liverpool paid Brighton just an initial £35million for Mac Allister in the summer and he is in red-hot form. He created Mo Salah’s winner against Brighton on Sunday with a quick, sliderule pass and he dug Liverpool out of another hole last night.
The Blades’ massed ranks almost frustrated them and they cancelled out Darwin Nunez’s opener through a Conor Bradley own goal.
Then, just as it looked like Chris Wilder’s side might escape from Anfield with a point to blow a hole in Liverpool’s title hopes, up stepped Mac Allister.
The warning signs were there for Liverpool in the opening seconds when Caoimhin Kelleher saved from the unmarked James Mcatee at his back post with his foot.
Normal service was resumed as Liverpool laid siege to the Blades goal and keeper Ivo Grbic touched over a Salah shot before Virgil van Dijk headed wide.
But Liverpool’s opener in the 17th minute was a real gift for the Reds.
Grbic took far too long over Jack Robinson’s back pass, allowing Nunez to charge down his clearance and the ball rebounded off him into the net for his 18th goal of the season.
Liverpool had more chances as they camped outside the Blades box and Nunez bulldozed his way into the box, only for Grbic to save his shot.
Joe Gomez and Mac Allister fired potshots wide before Ryan Gravenberch shot straight at Grbic and Liverpool struggled to create clear openings against United’s packed defence.
The half-chances continued to come and go for Liverpool and Dominik Szoboszlai’s 25-yard effort was plucked from the air by Grbic before Luis Diaz dragged a 20-yard shot wide.
For all of Liverpool’s pressure, United almost snatched an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when Kelleher was forced to parry Jayden Bogle’s shot.
The Reds had to be careful not to leave the back door open and Kelleher reacted well again to save Hamer’s free-kick after Ibrahima Konate fouled Ben Brereton Diaz.
They failed to heed the warning and the Blades levelled in the 58th minute when Mcatee’s cross was headed at goal by Gustavo Hamer and deflected in off Bradley.
Klopp’s reaction was instant – he took off Salah, who was none too pleased, and
Gravenberch. Liverpool cranked up the pressure and substitute Andy Robertson volleyed just wide of the back post.
A winner was coming – and Mac Allister delivered it in the 76th minute with his strike.
The Blades could only clear the ball to him 20 yards out and he fired it into the top corner.
He was also denied a second by the woodwork from a smart free-kick with Grbic beaten.
But Cody Gakpo scored the third goal that Liverpool’s dominance had deserved when he headed home Robertson’s cross in the 90th minute.
LIVERPOOL: Kelleher 7, Bradley 7 Konate 6, Van Dijk 6, Gomez 6 (Jones 71, 6), Szoboszlai 6 (Gakpo 71, 7), Macallister 8, Gravenberch 5 (Robertson 59, 7), Salah 6 (Elliott 59, 6), Nunez 7, Diaz 7.
SHEFF UTD: Grbic 3, Holgate 6, (Slimane 86), Ahmedhodzic 6, Trusty 6 (Brooks 77, 5), Bogle 7, Vinicius Souza 6, Arblaster 5, Hamer 7 (Osborn 63, 6), Robinson 6, Mcatee 7 (Mcburnie 63, 6), Brereton Diaz 6 (Osula 63, 5).