Jurgen Klopp praised Alexis Mac Allister for the “wonder goal” that helped Liverpool overcome battling Sheffield United and stay in control of the Premier League title race.
The bottom-of-the-table Blades were on course for a shock draw at Anfield, but Mac Allister – a World Cup winner with Argentina – scored with a brilliant 20-yard strike into the top corner to put the Reds 2-1 up.
Cody Gakpo added a 90th-minute third as Liverpool returned to the top of the table.
Boss Klopp said: “We needed Macca’s wonder goal to turn it around. He is super important for us, a wonderful player and a wonderful boy – I’m really happy for Liverpool that we got him.
“His defensive work has been really good where people were doubting if he could be defensive, but I prefer him in the eight [attacking midfield].
“He is a really good player. In the first half he was playing [as a] six, but we knew we could move him slightly higher. Then he scores this kind of goal, the two biggest screamers of the season [after also scoring from long distance against Fulham] have come from him. Then the free-kick directly after [the goal] – absolutely insane, what a player.”
Mac Allister, who joined Liverpool for £35m from Brighton last summer, also hit the crossbar with a curling free-kick.
Liverpool were gifted a 17th-minute lead when Darwin Nunez charged down goalkeeper Ivo Grbic’s clearance with the ball rebounding into the net.
Despite having 84% of possession in the first half and wasting numerous chances, the hosts conceded a 58th-minute equaliser as Gustavo Hamer’s header bounced off Conor Bradley and into his own net.
But Mac Allister – nominated for March’s Premier League Player of the Month award – put the hosts back in front with 14 minutes left, before substitute Gakpo’s header sealed a vital success.
The result moved the Reds two points clear of Arsenal and three ahead of reigning champions Manchester City, with eight league games left.
