ReactionCody Gakpo: Everyone is eager to show their quality and contribute

Alexis Mac Allister produced a wonderful strike, 14 minutes from time, to give the Reds a decisive lead at Anfield and help Jürgen Klopp’s side return to the top of the Premier League table on Thursday night.

The hosts had been pegged back when Conor Bradley's unfortunate own goal cancelled out Darwin Nunez's first-half opener, but found a way again, with Gakpo coming off the bench to seal the points with a sweet header on 90.

"That's what this team is all about," the Dutchman, who netted for the 14th time in 2023-24 via an assist from another substitute in Andy Robertson, told Liverpoolfc.com post-match. "We have so much quality, and the manager can only start 11.

"[But] everybody is eager to perform well for himself, for the team and for the fans when they are coming on, and at the beginning of the season everyone had the belief that, 'OK, I'm not starting today but when I come on, you never know what is going to happen, and if I put all of my energy out there then beautiful things can happen.'"

Gakpo continued: "It's not easy, but what [the manager] says is that we need to bring extra energy and impulse. Especially for me because I'm an attacker, but also defending-wise with the counter-pressing, we need to give an extra energy boost.

"Often when we did that this season it worked out very well. Today again, Robbo, another substitute, gave me the assist, so well done!"

Reflecting further on a rain-swept contest that was lit up by Mac Allister's sensational, first-time blast in front of the Kop, he added: "We had a lot of possession.

"But in these games, you know you have to score the second and third one because you never know what will happen.

"And then it happened, they scored, and I think we tried to stay calm and we did it really well, not being in a rush to score the second one and forgetting the things we did before.

"I think we did really well on that point and then Macca scored a beauty! Big relief and I think after that it was like [it was] game over."

Liverpool's victory over the Blades moved them back to being two points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the table, and three ahead of Manchester City.

The Reds next head to rivals Manchester United on Sunday, and Gakpo says the players are not allowing talk of a title race to distract them from the job in hand.

"Obviously we are aware of the situation but we just try to approach every game and stay calm," the No.18 said.

"Obviously your mind can go all over the place if you are thinking about the end of the season, but we just have to take it game by game.

"We are doing it pretty well at the moment and we just need to stay calm and stay focused."