EPL: Liverpool back on top, Chelsea stun Man U
LIVERPOOL OVERCAME an unexpected test of their title credentials to beat last-place Sheffield United 3-1 yesterday and move back to the top of the English Premier League (EPL).
Manchester United’s season, meanwhile, descended deeper into crisis after conceding two goals in stoppage time in a 4-3 loss at Chelsea.
It doesn’t get any easier for Erik ten Hag’s team, who host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.
English football’s biggest rivalry resumes with Liverpool chasing the title and Manchester United on the slide.
A 12th l eague defeat of the campaign for Manchester United was played out in front of new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe at Stamford Bridge and will likely see pressure intensify on manager Ten Hag.
Alexis Mac Allister’s secondhalf strike inspired Liverpool to victory after Sheffield United had threatened to spring a surprise in the race for the title.
Conor Bradley’s own goal had evened the game at 1-1 after Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the first half.
But Anfield erupted as Mac Allister unleashed an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area in the 76th to restore Liverpool’s lead, and substitute Cody Gakpo made it 3-1 with a header in the 90th.
UNITED STUNNED
Boyhood United fan Cole Palmer scored a hat-trick as Chelsea came back in the final minutes to stun Manchester United.
Deep i nto stoppage time it looked like the visitors were going to walk away with a morale-boosting win after recovering from a disastrous start.
Manchester United had come back from going 2-0 down early through a goal from Conor Gallagher and Palmer’s penalty.
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes evened the score at 2-2 before halftime and Garnacho headed his team in front after the break.
But Diogo Dalot’s clumsy challenge on Noni Madueke earned Chelsea a second penalty and Palmer converted in the 10th minute of injury time.
The drama wasn’t over yet. A minute later, Palmer’s effort from outside the box was deflected past Andre Onana to seal a spectacular comeback.