Premier League: Liverpool suffer but beat Sheffield and regain the lead

Liverpool painfully overcame bottom-place Sheffield United (3-1) on Thursday at Anfield, with two late goals which brought the Reds back to first place in the Premier League. Alexis Mac Allister (76th, 2-1) and Cody Gakpo (90th, 3-1) relieved their team and their supporters at the end of a difficult meeting for Liverpool, less flamboyant and furious than usual.

In the standings, Jürgen Klopp's team takes control with 70 points, two more than Arsenal (2nd, 68 pts) and three more than Manchester City (3rd, 67 pts), three-time defending champion. The three members of the podium all won during this 31st day and the suspense remains, a month and a half from the end of the championship. Put under pressure by the victories the day before of Arsenal and Manchester City, respectively against Luton (2-0) and Aston Villa (4-1), Liverpool opened the scoring in a slightly lucky way: Darwin Nunez came to block a clearance from goalkeeper Ivan Grbic (17th, 1-0).

But Sheffield, the worst attack in the Premier League, responded with success as well, Conor Bradley pushing a header off target into his own goal (59th, 1-1).

The release came from a missile from Mac Allister, the Reds' in-form man, who has three goals and four assists in the last six league matches. Gakpo sealed the victory with a header from a cross from Andy Robertson. Liverpool will try to maintain their first place on Sunday at their historic enemy Manchester United.