2024-04-05 11:50:05
Liverpool beat last-placed Sheffield United 3-1 in the English Football League to return to the top of the table two points ahead of Arsenal and three points ahead of Manchester City. The key goal for 2:1 was scored by Alexis Mac Allister with a beautiful volley quarter of an hour before the end. In today’s second match, thanks to Cole Palmer’s hat trick, Chelsea beat Manchester United 4:3 after a wild run.
Darwin Núñez guided Liverpool to a mandatory win with a curious goal. In the 17th minute, the Uruguayan striker was attacking the kicking goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, jumped up, and when he turned, the ball from the foot of the Croatian goalkeeper hit him in the background, from which it bounced into the net.
The conquerors of Sparta Prague from the round of 16 of the Europa League did not use many chances and eighty-four percent possession of the ball in the first half to score another goal. After less than an hour of play, Anfield was frozen by Conor Bradley’s own goal, which trickled Gustav Hamer’s header behind goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher.
However, the guests did not achieve a surprising point gain, which would have slightly improved their rescue prospects. In the 76th minute, Argentine world champion Mac Allister ran to a loose ball in the semi-circle at the top of the penalty area and volleyed it into the gallows. In the 90th minute, Cody Gakpo confirmed the victory for the favorite.
Chelsea almost lost a well-played game against United, from which they ended up getting three points thanks to their top scorer Palmer. The “Blues” led 2-0 after less than twenty minutes thanks to a goal by captain Conor Gallagher and Palmer’s first converted penalty, but the “Reds” equalized before halftime after goals from Alejandro Garnach and captain Bruno Fernandes.
When Argentine Garnacho struck for the second time in the 67th minute and the visitors held the lead deep into stoppage time, it looked like they would be celebrating victory at Stamford Bridge. However, in the seventh minute of regulation, Diogo Dalot caused a penalty, which Palmer again converted, and shortly afterwards, in the 101st minute, the 21-year-old English midfielder completed the second conversion of the match with a spot-kick from the corner.
Chelsea beat United in the league after seven years and are tenth, with Manchester sixth three points ahead of seventh-placed West Ham.
English Football League – Round 31:
Liverpool – Sheffield United 3:1 (17. Núñez, 76. Mac Allister, 90. Gakpo – 58. owned by Bradley), Chelsea – Manchester United 4:3 (19., 90.+10 both from pen., 90.+ 11 Palmer, 4. Gallagher – 34. and 67. Garnacho, 39. Fernandes).
| 1. | Liverpool | 30 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 70:28 | 70 |
| 2. | Arsenal | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 72:24 | 68 |
| 3. | Manchester City | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 67:29 | 67 |
| 4. | Aston Villa | 31 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 63:46 | 59 |
| 5. | Tottenham | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 62:44 | 57 |
| 6. | Manchester United | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 43:44 | 48 |
| 7. | West Ham | 31 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 50:55 | 45 |
| 8. | Newcastle | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 64:52 | 44 |
| 9. | Brighton | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 51:46 | 43 |
| 10. | Chelsea | 29 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 53:50 | 43 |
| 11. | Wolverhampton | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 43:47 | 42 |
| 12. | Bournemouth | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 44:53 | 41 |
| 13. | Fulham | 31 | 11 | 6 | 14 | 47:50 | 39 |
| 14. | Crystal Palace | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 34:50 | 30 |
| 15. | Brentford | 31 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 42:55 | 28 |
| 16. | Everton | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 31:42 | 26 |
| 17. | Nottingham | 31 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 39:53 | 25 |
| 18. | Luton | 31 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 43:64 | 22 |
| 19. | Burnley | 31 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 32:66 | 19 |
| 20. | Sheffield United | 30 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 28:80 | 15 |
Note: Everton lost 6 points and Nottingham 4 points as a penalty for breaching financial rules.