The moments that were overlooked during Liverpool’s Thursday night 3-1 victory over Sheffield United
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Sheffield United on Thursday sent them back to the top of the Premier League.
Darwin Nunez’s 18th goal of the season was cancelled out by Conor Bradley’s own goal. Alexis Mac Allister then lit up Anfield with one of the goals of the season, and Cody Gakpo sealed the victory with a header in stoppage time.
Of course, you were aware of all of that. However, there were a number of fascinating subplots that night that you could have missed.
Following the game on Thursday night, Chris Wilder was moving around the Anfield mixed zone, down but not out.
Despite Sheffield United’s dire position at the bottom of the Premier League, the manager of the Blades has enough to cheer him on for the last few weeks of the season.
Furthermore, as he made his way to the squad bus, Wilder spoke well of Liverpool despite the widespread perception that the Sheffield United manager and Jurgen Klopp have a long-standing rivalry that has been dramatized and exaggerated over the years.
As he bid farewell to a specific Anfield employee, Wilder emphasized, “I hope you win and good luck for the remainder of the season.” And I really do mean that.
From a manager who hasn’t been the Kop’s favorite in recent years, it was a touch of class.
For Chelsea, three cheers?
When Chelsea defeated Manchester United in the closing seconds, the collected reporters, gathered around a smartphone, could be heard cheering very loudly.
Just a few moments after Cole Palmer’s almost unbelievable 100th-minute penalty tied the score at three, there was a loud cheer from a staff room nearby. It was obvious to whom they were offering their assistance.
And although at the time it appeared like the club’s workers were applauding Chelsea’s equalizer, it was discovered moments later that Palmer’s 111th-minute winner was actually being wildly praised in the depths of Anfield.
Although Liverpool is unlikely to finish lower than United this season, it is evident that old habits die hard, and there seemed to be a lot of happiness to be found in United’s suffering.
After a truly amazing conclusion to the events at Stamford Bridge, who could blame them? Maybe more of the same on Sunday?
Nunez strikes the grass.
After 74 minutes, Darwin Nunez was left furiously thumping the ground in disgust after Mason Holgate’s particularly forceful challenge denied him a free kick.
Referee Stuart Attwell ruled that the former Everton defender’s strong challenge was acceptable, which caused Nunez to writhe and fume on the deck.
The No. 9 was repeatedly spotted striking the ground as the play progressed down the field, clearly upset that he had not been called for a foul.
Even though he had more than half a point, it was hard to ignore the humorous side of the player’s irrational outburst from a game that has elevated him to the status of a true Merseyside hero.
