Liverpool spoilt Chris Wilder’s Bramall Lane return to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Wilder, who guided Sheffield United to two promotions in a five-year reign before leaving in disgrace in 2021, earned a thunderous welcome back from the Blades faithful.
Virgil van Dijk, however, calmed the raucous home crowd with a side-footed volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner, despite Blades claims that he had fouled Anel Ahmedhodzic prior to doing so.
Darwin Nunez’s hard charge on Jayden Bogle was deemed fair in the build-up to Dominik Szoboszlai’s slick finish, but the Reds’ second goal in stoppage time was not without dispute.
Liverpool, who have only been beaten once in the league this season when they were downed in stoppage time by Tottenham, have moved back to within two points of the table-topping Gunners.
Meanwhile, the Blades are four points from safety after their 12th loss in 15 league games, though Wilder will take encouragement from a competitive display against the second-placed Reds.
Manchester vs Chelsea
Scott McTominay scored twice at Old Trafford for the second time this season, giving Manchester United a vital victory and relieving pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
The Scotland midfielder’s latest effort against Chelsea was not as exciting as the two goals he scored in injury time against Brentford in October.
On a night when United squandered a slew of chances, including a penalty from Bruno Fernandes, it was just as welcome.
McTominay’s first shot was an instinctive strike from 12 yards after the rebound from Harry Maguire’s saved header bounced beautifully for him.
McTominay then raced in at the far post to slam home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross 21 minutes from time after Cole Palmer had leveled just before the interval.
He should have had his first career hat-trick after being set up by Antony, but he scuffed his finish into the ground.
It didn’t matter in the end, as United held off late Chelsea pressure, with replacement Armando Broja heading against the post.
Just over 15 years after these two met in a Champions League final, as part of a seven-year sequence in which one or the other finished up with the Premier League trophy, the hosts only moved up to sixth place, while their guests remained in tenth.
It also increased United’s current dominance in these encounters to 12 games, while Chelsea’s wait for an away win now exceeds 11 years.