Alexis Mac Allister scored a stunning goal to help Liverpool beat Sheffield United 3-1 and reclaim top spot in the English Premier League.

Darwin Nunez had given Jurgen Klopp’s team a first-half lead at Anfield on Thursday (Friday AEDT), but Sheffield United were gifted a way back into the game through Conor Bradley’s own goal after the break.

With Liverpool in danger of dropping points in the race for the title, Mac Allister eased the tension when he blasted a long-range effort into the top corner in the 76th minute.

The game was put beyond doubt when substitute Cody Gakpo headed in a third in the 90th.

Liverpool moved two points clear of Arsenal at the top, but they had to dig deep against last-placed Sheffield United.

The Merseyside club needed a touch of fortune to take the lead in the 17th minute after Sheffield goalkeeper Ivo Grbic’s attempted clearance was blocked by the jump of Nunez.

The forward had his back to the ball, but it ricocheted off him and past Grbic before rolling into the empty net.

After the break, the visitors were given an unexpected route back when Bradley diverted Gustavo Hamer’s header into his own net in the 58th minute.

But Mac Allister swung the match in Liverpool’s favour with his lashed effort, and he could have added another when he hit the bar with a free kick late on, before Gakpo’s header sealed the result.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dyke was full of praise for the Mac attack.

“I was looking from just behind him and it was a great strike,” he said. “When we conceded we changed into a completely different team and started attacking and creating a lot more chances.

“We have to start games much better, more aggressive. That is something we need to work on. It is all about the points at this stage, we can’t drop any. It is never easy to play against a low block. You have to play fast and get runners in behind. We didn’t do that well.”

with AAP