Liverpool remain masters of their own destiny in the Premier League title race.
It was not convincing against lowly Sheffield United but they finished with a flourish to restore their two-point lead at the summit.
Alexis Mac Allister’s thunderbolt eased the anxiety levels around Anfield before substitute Cody Gakpo’s header put the game beyond doubt late on.
“I don’t want to be too critical but the football was not great in a lot of moments,” said manager Jurgen Klopp, whose side had 83 per cent possession but struggled to make it count. “We saw how much speed-ups, quick passes, underlaps and overlaps can change a game. We did that after 60 minutes. We showed how you can make life slightly easier.”
Liverpool have won more matches (16) and scored more goals (59) in all competitions in 2024 than any other side across Europe’s big-five leagues, but the feeling persists they will need to raise the bar performance-wise if they are going to give Klopp his dream farewell.
Arch-rivals Manchester United, wounded after their late capitulation against Chelsea on Thursday, lie in wait at Old Trafford on Sunday. How they would dearly love to derail the Merseysiders’ pursuit of a 20th top-flight crown.
For Liverpool, the contest represents a shot at redemption — just three weeks after being architects of their own downfall in a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final tie between the clubs. Having led 2-1 and 3-2, there are lessons that must be learned if Klopp’s final visit to Old Trafford as Liverpool boss is going to be a triumphant one.
Stop stumbling out of the blocks.
“We could have gone behind quite early in the game,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after Caoimhin Kelleher made an excellent save to deny James McAtee in the opening minute of Thursday’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United.
“We have to start games much better, much more aggressive — that’s something we have to work on.”
It’s been a familiar theme with Liverpool. They trailed inside 90 seconds against Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday, fighting back to win and taking their tally to 26 points gained from losing positions so far this season. At Old Trafford last month, they made an error-strewn start and allowed Erik ten Hag’s side to seize the initiative.
In the build-up to Scott McTominay’s opener inside 10 minutes, Alejandro Garnacho wasn’t tracked after drifting inside from the right flank. There was a lack of communication and organisation.
United had plenty of joy targeting the space behind and between right-back Joe Gomez and centre-back Jarell Quansah as Liverpool looked horribly vulnerable down their right side. That became less of a problem when the visitors belatedly settled and started to retain possession better as the first half progressed. Klopp admitted they took a while to get to grips with United’s man-marking.
Personnel-wise, Klopp has some big decisions to make defensively ahead of Sunday. Does he recall Quansah, who was rested on Thursday, or stick with Ibrahima Konate? Andy Robertson’s eye-catching cameo off the bench against Sheffield United has surely earned him a start at left-back, so it’s a toss-up between either Gomez or Conor Bradley on the right.
With Wataru Endo expected to return in midfield at the expense of Ryan Gravenberch, the rest of the team effectively picks itself.
It was Quansah who gave Liverpool the spark they needed against United last month with the surging run that led to Mac Allister’s deflected strike restoring parity. Then it was Gomez’s pressing to dispossess Bruno Fernandes that created the opening for Mohamed Salah to score the second soon after.
However, for the most part, Liverpool lacked a clinical edge. Decision-making repeatedly let them down. They failed to take advantage of some glorious openings on the counter-attack. This one in the first half underlined the huge gap between United’s attackers and their retreating backline as Dominik Szoboszlai burst into space. It ended with Robertson firing over after playing a one-two with Luis Diaz.
In the second half, Liverpool were firmly in control but failed to make their dominance count. This next screengrab was the most glaring example of their wastefulness as they somehow squandered a five-versus-two breakaway. In fact, they didn’t even get a shot away. Rather than playing in Diaz, Cody Gakpo selected the wrong pass and found fellow substitute Harvey Elliott, whose attempt to pick out Darwin Nunez was intercepted.
Nunez and Salah missed Liverpool’s best chances and they were made to pay when Antony fired home late on. In extra time, their game management was conspicuous by its absence, especially after Elliott had put them 3-2 up. They took unnecessary risks.
After receiving the ball from Kelleher, Nunez could have played an easy pass back to substitute Kostas Tsimikas as United closed him down.
But instead Nunez ran into trouble, lost possession and left Liverpool exposed as Marcus Rashford made it 3-3.
“It got really hard for us. It was the first time I really saw my team struggling,” said Klopp, with fatigue certainly a factor after such a punishing run of games. However, naivety also cost Liverpool. In the space of 14 seconds, they went from taking a corner to conceding a dramatic winning goal through Amad as Bradley was outnumbered. The protection had to be better.
Neither the sense of heartache nor glory emanating from that dramatic afternoon has lingered. Liverpool have regrouped with back-to-back, hard-fought league wins over Brighton and Sheffield United, while United stumbled from a fortunate draw at Brentford to a last-gasp defeat against Chelsea.
“It says a lot about our team, the resilience, how we bounce back,” added Van Dijk.
“Obviously going from a draw and changing it around in the last 15 minutes is a great thing. It’s never easy to play against a low block. You have to play fast, you have to get runners in behind and I think we were lacking a little bit in that sense.
“But when we conceded, I think we changed into a completely different team and we started creating a lot of chances with a lot more overlaps. It was intense. Friday it’s recovery and Saturday back in the hotel ready for Sunday and quite a big game. It’s something to look forward to. We have to stay calm and enjoy it as well.”
It’s Liverpool with the belief and the momentum. They also have Robertson and Curtis Jones back fit, and Mac Allister in the form of his life, with 10 goal involvements in his past 10 appearances in all competitions (five goals, five assists).
The table says they are 22 points better than United. On Sunday they need to go out there and prove it. They can’t let United off the hook again. Hostility is guaranteed at Old Trafford. Only victory will do.
(Top photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
