Liverpool 2 – 1 Sheff Utd

Objectives in both half from Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota gave Liverpool a 2-1 comeback victory over a spirited Sheffield United at Anfield.

The Blades, with solely a degree to indicate from their opening 5 video games of the season, took a shock lead after 13 minutes when VAR dominated Fabinho’s foul on Oli McBurnie had been simply inside the house field – giving Sander Berge the proper probability to beat the restored Alisson from 12 yards.

A surprising cross from Jordan Henderson teed up Liverpool’s equaliser 4 minutes earlier than half-time, with Sadio Mane’s header palmed out by Aaron Ramsdale to Firmino, who scored simply his third purpose in his final 27 video games for Liverpool.

The Blades continued to impress after the break with out critically threatening to additional concern Alisson on his return from damage, and located themselves behind when Jota netted his first Premier League headed purpose from Mane’s wonderful supply.

Victory sees Liverpool leapfrog Aston Villa – who’ve performed a sport much less – into second place, degree with metropolis rivals Everton, who even have a sport in hand on their neighbours.

How Liverpool got here from behind at Anfield

How would Liverpool cope with out Virgil van Dijk? His identify had dominated discussions within the build-up to Saturday’s sport, regardless of the Reds’ comparatively comfy win over Ajax in midweek, however they flew out of the blocks at Anfield and will have led inside two minutes.

Andrew Robertson’s inviting ball down the surface discovered Mane’s run, and with Ramsdale opting to race off his line, the winger’s slide cross in the direction of Firmino seemed sure to be tapped residence till an important sliding block from John Egan took it behind.

Trent Alexander-Arnold prompted the goalkeeper extra issues with an audacious free-kick from the half-way line which noticed him back-peddling to tip the ball over his crossbar and spare his blushes.

The half would swing on a momentary lapse from Fabinho, so spectacular in Amsterdam on Wednesday night time, however rash to lunge in on McBurnie on the sting of his personal field. Mike Dean initially awarded the guests a free-kick, however VAR referee Andre Marriner dominated the foul had occurred contained in the field, leaving Berge to beat Alisson from 12 yards.

Their sudden burst of confidence which adopted was clear to see, as McBurnie then skewed an effort large when well-placed earlier than Ben Osborn’s well-struck volley was palmed away by Alisson. The Blades had critical trigger to consider they might have had one other penalty with half-time approaching when Berge went over Diogo Jota’s outstretched leg simply inside the world, however a well-placed Dean noticed nothing untoward.

Moments later the half would take one other sudden swing, as Liverpool made one thing out of nothing to degree. Jordan Henderson’s depraved cross from the precise discovered Mane on the again publish, however after preserving out his header Ramsdale was powerless to cease Firmino following up from close-range.

That did not take the wind out of the Blades’ sails earlier than half-time, and neither did their heads drop after with George Baldock seeing a goalbound effort deflected behind inside two minutes of the restart, earlier than Salah fired simply over on the different finish from a half-cleared nook.

Quickly Salah did discover the again of the web with a textbook take and end from Alexander-Arnold’s whipped cross from deep, however his celebrations have been minimize quick as a speedy VAR examine dominated his run had taken him a foot or so past the final man.

They’d not be minimize quick for lengthy. Having defended so nicely towards him all night, Baldock allowed Mane area to cross from the left and Jota, having peeled off Enda Stevens on the again publish, nodded in a superb header.

Salah almost wrapped up the factors with one other sensible transfer 9 minutes from time, turning Egan and heading for purpose, however this time the woodwork, quite than VAR, denied the Egyptian.

Sheffield United by no means gave up the ghost in a efficiency which had lots to savour however, most frustratingly for Chris Wilder, nothing to indicate for it because the Blades remained within the backside three, whereas Liverpool moved joint prime of the creating Premier League desk.

What’s subsequent?

Liverpool are again within the Champions League this week, going through FC Midtjylland on Tuesday; kick-off at 8pm. Subsequent weekend they host West Ham at Anfield within the Premier League on Saturday Evening Soccer reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League from 5pm; kick-off at 5.30pm.

Sheffield United face one other powerful check as they tackle Manchester Metropolis at Bramall Lane subsequent Saturday; kick-off at 12.30pm.