By Le Figaro with AFP
Published yesterday at 10:43 p.m., Updated yesterday at 11:12 p.m.
Virgil van Dijk, buteur. MOLLY DARLINGTON / REUTERS
The Reds won against Sheffield (2-0) this Wednesday. And remain two points behind Arsenal, first.
Liverpool struggled before winning 2-0 at bottom side Sheffield United on Wednesday, a second success in a row which nevertheless allows them to remain two points behind leader Arsenal after fifteen days of the championship.
The usual offensive flame of the Reds did not particularly shine at Bramall Lane, where the victory came from defender and captain Virgil van Dijk, scorer from a corner (37th), then from midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai (90th + 4) at the end of part.
The victory, even sluggish, nevertheless offers the same number of points as the flamboyant one acquired three days earlier at Fulham (4-3) in the final minutes. Liverpool have 34 units, two less than Arsenal (36 pts), a painful 4-3 winner on Tuesday at another promoted side, Luton Town FC. Jürgen Klopp’s team is assured of retaining its second place at the end of the 15th day.
Unstoppable Fulham
Sheffield United, last in the championship, showed character in front of their home crowd without being able to prevent a third defeat in a row, the first since the appointment of Chris Wilder, inducted on Tuesday to replace Paul Heckingbottom on the bench.
Liverpool’s goal machine, usually so well oiled, experienced some failures, notably on the side of Darwin Nunez, unable to win a face-to-face with the goalkeeper (77th).
Fulham, conversely, inflicted a “manita” on Nottingham Forest (5-0), after having already scored three goals at Wolverhampton (3-2) then three others at Liverpool during their two previous meetings. The Londoners moved up to twelfth place with 18 points, one unit away from Brentford (11th, 19 pts) who lost 2-1 at Brighton.
At home, the “Seagulls” made the difference thanks to an 18-year-old kid, eleven of whom spent at the club: Jack Hinshelwood (53rd, 2-1), whose father Adam wore the Brighton jersey (100 matches) in the 2000s. Bournemouth, fifteenth, recorded their third victory in four matches against a Crystal Palace team (2-0) struggling in the championship.
