Liverpool back on top; Manchester United’s woes continue after loss to Chelsea
Liverpool’s players overcame an unexpected test of its Premier League title credentials against lastplace Sheffield United. Manchester United, meanwhile, went into meltdown at Chelsea.
This was a latest reminder of the gulf that separates English soccer’s fiercest rivals ahead of their clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Liverpool is back on top after a 31 win against Sheffield United, while Manchester United conceded two goals in stoppage time
Palmer scores Chelsea’s third against United.
in a stunning 43 Chelsea.
Liverpool’s win further demonstrated the resolve of Jurgen Klopp’s team and the growing influence of Alexis Mac Allister, whose stunning secondhalf strike set up victory. loss at
Anfield erupted as the Argentina international unleashed an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box that crashed into the top corner in the 76th minute. The atmosphere had been getting increasingly tense before that with the game locked at 11. Substitute Cody Gakpo added a third for Liverpool in the 90th.
United’s 12th league defeat of the campaign was played out in front of new coowner Jim Ratcliffe at Stamford Bridge. United suffered an even worse collapse at Chelsea after Cole Palmer scored twice in stoppage time to complete a hat trick and an unlikely comeback for Mauricio Pochettino’s team.
United had looked set to walk away with a moraleboosting win after recovering from a disastrous start — going 20 down early through a goal from Conor Gallagher and Palmer’s penalty. Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes evened the score at 22 before halftime and Garnacho headed his team in front after the break.
But Diogo Dalot’s clumsy challenge on substitute Noni Madueke earned Chelsea a second penalty and Palmer — a boyhood United fan — converted in the 110th.
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 win.
The results: Chelsea 4
(Gallagher 4, Palmer 19pen, 90+10pen, 90+11) bt Manchester United 3 (Garnacho 34, 67, Fernandes 39); Liverpool 3
(Nunez 17, Mac Allister 76, Gakpo 90) bt Sheffield United 1 (Bradley 58og).