Darwin Núñez guided Liverpool to a “must-have” win with a curious strike. In the 17th minute, the Uruguayan striker was attacking the kicking Croatian goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, jumped up, and as he turned, the ball hit him in the background, from which it bounced into the net.
The defeaters of Sparta Prague from the round of 16 of the Europa League subsequently did not use a lot of chances to score another goal and eighty-four percent possession of the ball in the first half. After less than an hour of play, Conor Bradley’s own goal by Conor Bradley, who trickled Gustav Hamer’s header behind goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher’s back, froze Anfield.
However, the guests did not achieve a sensational point gain, which would have slightly improved their rescue prospects. In the 76th minute, Argentine world champion Mac Allister ran to a loose ball in the semi-circle at the top of the penalty area and volleyed it into the crossbar. In the 90th minute, substitute Cody Gakpo confirmed the victory for the favorite.
Palmer’s X factor
Chelsea almost lost a well-played game against United, from which they ended up getting three points thanks to their top scorer Palmer. The Blues led 2-0 in the 20th minute thanks to a goal by captain Conor Gallagher and Palmer’s first converted penalty, but the Reds equalized before half-time after goals from Alejandro Garnach and captain Bruno Fernandes.
When Argentine Garnacho struck for the second time in the 67th minute and the visitors held the lead deep into stoppage time, it looked like they would be celebrating victory at Stamford Bridge. However, in the seventh minute, Diogo Dalot was guilty of a penalty, which Palmer again safely converted, and shortly afterwards, in the 101st minute, the 21-year-old English midfielder completed the second turnaround of the game with a spot-kick after a corner kick.
Chelsea beat United in the league after seven years and are tenth in the table, with Manchester sixth three points ahead of seventh-placed West Ham.
