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MOTD: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United

By on April 13, 2015

Recently, Raheem Sterling has gotten a lot of stick from Liverpool fans regarding his handling of pending contract negotiations at the club; but such was his performance tonight, they couldn’t help but give him a standing ovation as he was substituted for Rickie Lambert late on. Liverpool can credit him, yet again, (and Manchester City) for keeping them in the Champions League race. Although Newcastle gave them a run for their money — Anfield was almost silent as Liverpool struggled to gain a foothold in the second half — it was Sterling’s goal, a beauty at that, which allowed Liverpool to take an easy approach to the three points.

Indeed, this may be their season’s story. Luis Suarez left over the summer and the goals dried up, but thanks to Sterling stepping in and carrying the weight of seven goals and seven assists so far this season, Liverpool had crept back to just four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. In late February, he scored a key goal to finish off Southampton, a late equalizer in an FA Cup win over Bolton Wanderers, and a go-ahead goal against West Ham United. His goals have beennumbered, but come in key situations, and at only twenty, his importance to the side is both remarkable and — given the recent contract controversy — somewhat concerning. Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli, and Fabio Borini have all had poor seasons, while Sterling has been instrumental in compensating.

Just eighteen minutes into the game at Anfield today, Jordan Henderson launched a diagonal ball to Sterling. From the left side of the box, the Englishman’s beautiful first touch guided him into the middle after Philippe Coutinho evacuated the area and created a pocket of space for Sterling; throughout the season, Coutinho and Henderson have taken turns orchestrating Liverpool’s play — today it was the former — but have needed Sterling to finish it off. And so he did, with a flash of style and elegance, too, stroking a masterful effort into the top right corner with seamless grace. Sterling was laughing as wheeling away in celebration, and this time, it was natural.

The goal by no certainty handed Liverpool the win, as Newcastle fought back hard and silenced the Anfield crowd when Ayoze Perez should have won a penalty. Perez then forced Simon Mignolet into a fantastic sprawling save via a masterful flicked header from Daryl Janmaat’s cross and Mehdi Abied blazed over from Moussa Sissoko’s cut-back. The onslaught only continued in the second half.

Yet what Sterling’s goal did give Liverpool was some security. No longer did Brendan Rodgers’ men need to push forward so vigorously, as they could weather the storm. Liverpool’s next goal had the power to put the game to bed. Although Sterling missed a sitter earlier in the half (he was at least there to have the chance), Liverpool didn’t let the next one to begging: Joe Allen snapped a volley into the top left corner from the aftermath of a corner. The rest, for Liverpool, was a matter of keeping the ball.
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling

Photo credit: Kev Ruscoe on Flickr

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.