Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table on Thursday night after overcoming a scare to beat Sheffield United 3-1.
Jurgen Klopp's side have rarely done things the easy way, and although many were expecting the hosts to run up the score against the relegation-bound Blades, they were instead forced to find a way beyond their stubborn visitors in the second half.
Alexis Mac Allister settled a nervous Anfield with a quite outstanding strike after Sheffield United drew level, with Liverpool's victory seeing them return to the division's summit with a two-point cushion.
How the match unfolded
A procession was expected for the Reds on home soil despite Chris Wilder's Blades showing signs of life in recent outings.
Liverpool certainly haven't been exempt from early concessions at Anfield, and they should've fallen behind after 30 seconds when James McAtee tested Caoimhin Kelleher from close range. A dangerous corner followed, but the hosts survived.
The hosts then turned to turning the screw at the other end, but Sheffield United's early resistance was stubborn. Ivo Grbic hadn't been tested before his attempted clearance crashed off the charging Darwin Nunez and into the net.
It was a sequence that summed up the visitors' rather torrid campaign, but Wilder's men refused to fold in a difficult environment. The Reds were superb, completely stifling the Blades with their counter-press, but their sustained pressure failed to produce a high-quality opening for the remainder of the half, let alone a goal.
Sheffield United were in the game at 1-0, and they refused to die a slow death after the restart. They seized their moment just before the hour, with James McAtee teeing up Hamer at the back post. The midfielder's header flicked off Conor Bradley and beyond Kelleher.
The visitors started to believe in an upset and they continue to pose a threat on the counter. Anfield became a nervous cauldron, but an upsurge in intensity culminated in the sweetest of go-ahead goals as the imperious Mac Allister thundered home from the edge of the area before the contest entered its final act.
The Argentine's strike completely stifled the courageous visitors, who succumbed to a barrage in the closing stages. Substitute Cody Gakpo rounded off proceedings with a smart header late on to seal Liverpool's win.
Liverpool player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - 6/10 - No clean sheet yet again, but made a big save to prevent McAtee in the opening minute.
RB: Conor Bradley - 6/10 - Couldn't have done much about the own goal. Always direct and proactive in possession, adding a spark in the final third. Crosses were hit and miss.
CB: Ibrahima Konate - 7/10 - Gave away a couple of silly free-kicks, but was dominant in the air which ensured Sheffield United struggled to get up the pitch.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - With Konate operating as the aggressor, Van Dijk had to do plenty of sweeping. He did so with little hassle.
LB: Joe Gomez - 8/10 - Among the standout performers of the opening period, Gomez was excellent in possession and superb when covering the counter. Was beaten by McAtee in the lead up to Sheffield United's equaliser.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 9/10 - Where do you want your statue, Alexis Mac Allister? How good is this guy, seriously? Best thing is, it was his regain in transition which started his thunderb*stard sequence.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 7/10 - Such an impressive worker off the ball, Szoboszlai's athleticism came to the fore in the first half, and he was cute in and around the box when required.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch - 6/10 - One of few Liverpool players who never quite settled with the ball. Loose in the final third, but contributed to a fierce counter-press.
RW: Mohamed Salah - 6/10 - Hooked after an hour having functioned almost as a decoy down the right touchline, Delivered some wonderful passes into the channel.
ST: Darwin Nunez - 7/10 - Wasn't afforded much space by the Blades' backline, but was gifted a goal. Could've been tidier when asked to combine.
LW: Luis Diaz - 8/10 - The relentless Colombian was at it again as he constantly injected speed into Liverpool's attacks, refusing their final third work to go stale. Deserved a goal.
Substitutes
SUB: Harvey Elliott (60' for Salah) - 7/10
SUB: Andy Robertson (60' for Gravenberch) - 8/10
SUB: Cody Gakpo (72' for Szoboszlai) - 7/10
SUB: Curtis Jones (72' for Gomez) - 7/10
Subs not used: Adrian (GK), Kostas Tsimikas, Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, Jarell Quansah
Manager
Jurgen Klopp - 8/10 - Klopp knew something wasn't quite right before the visitors equalised and his subs, particularly Robertson and Jones, helped Liverpool regain the momentum they'd lost at the start of the second half.
Sheffield United player ratings (5-3-2)
GK: Ivo Grbic - 4/10 - Made a couple of fine second half saves, but his error for Liverpool's opener was inexplicable.
RWB: Jayden Bogle - 7/10 - Had such a tough assignment against Diaz, one made harder when Robertson started bombing on. Bogle stuck to his task well, breaking forward on occasions, too.
CB: Mason Holgate - 6/10 - Overcompensated at times when he covered for Bogle, and there were a couple of loose moments with the ball. Otherwise pretty secure.
CB: Anel Ahmedhodzic - 8/10 - The man at the heart of Sheffield United's defence was Liverpool's thorn for much of the contest. Astute positioning meant he was almost always there to thwart the hosts.
CB: Jack Robinson - 7/10 - His long throw created McAtee's early chance. Robinson, like Ahmedhodzic, was stellar when defending the box.
LWB: Aaron Trusty - 8/10 - It's been a tough season for Trusty, but he was excellent at Anfield. Salah wasn't given an inch, with the American strong aerially and in the duel throughout.
CM: Vinicius Souza - 7/10 - The imposing midfielder tried his utmost to screen the defence but was often bypassed. Effort couldn't be faulted.
CM: Ollie Arblaster - 6/10 - The youngster initially struggled in tough circumstances, but he persevered and eventually settled.
CM: Gustavo Hamer - 7/10 - Scrappy and was instrumental in the goal. Before his header deflected off Bradley, Hamer delivered a fine sweeping pass out to McAtee to start the move.
ST: James McAtee - 7/10 - Looked like he was the one who could've provided something for the visitors, and McAtee eventually did; beating Gomez to set-up the own goal.
ST: Ben Brereton Diaz - 5/10 - Had a tough gig up top. Didn't make use of the few moments he had.
Substitutes
SUB: Ben Osborn (62' for Hamer) - 5/10
SUB: Oli McBurnie (62' for Diaz) - 4/10
SUB: William Osula (62' for McAtee) - 5/10
SUB: Andre Brooks (78' for Trusty) - 5/10
SUB: Anis Ben Slimane (87' for Holgate) - N/A
Subs not used: Wes Foderingham (GK), Oliver Norwood, Anis Ben Slimane, Yasser Larouci, Sam Curtis
Manager
Chris Wilder - 7/10 - The Blades have had some tough moments this season, but they can be proud of their showing at Anfield. Wilder set his set up superbly to contain Liverpool in and around the box, and his plan earned an equaliser. Exceeded expectations.
