Liverpool reclaimed the Premier league lead in an enthralling title race as Alexis Mac Allister's thunderbolt and a late header by Cody Gakpo secured a nervy 3-1 home victory over bottom club Sheffield United on Thursday.
Juergen Klopp's side have 70 points from 30 games, two ahead of Arsenal and three more than champions Manchester City, both of whom won on Wednesday to crank up the pressure.
A bizarre opener by Darwin Nunez after 17 minutes when he closed down keeper Ivo Grbic and blocked his attempted clearance into the net looked set to open the floodgates as Liverpool sought the win they needed to dislodge Arsenal from top spot.
But the Reds were way below their best and an adventurous United side stunned the Anfield crowd shortly after halftime when a Connor Bradley own goal levelled the scores.
The visitors looked capable of hanging on for a shock point before a loose ball came out to Mac Allister in the 76th minute and he smashed a swerving right-foot effort into the top corner.
Gakpo then made sure of the points in the 90th as Liverpool took another step towards the perfect Klopp send-off as the manager prepares to leave at the end of the season.
"We had to dig very deep, but that is normal. Our attitude was good, the football was not great in a lot of moments," Klopp said. "Then Macca's goal was the complete game changer."
United are 10 points adrift of the safety zone and look set for a swift return to the Championship.
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