Sterling stars as Liverpool maintain Champions League hopes with win over Newcastle win in EPL encounter
London : Raheem Sterling helped Liverpool keep alive their hopes of finishing inside the Premier League’s top four and securing a place in next season’s Champions League with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Newcastle United at Anfield.
The Reds clinched the win thanks to goals from Sterling and Joe Allen as they closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City to four points with six matches of the season remaining.
The result also meant Newcastle, who had captain Moussa Sissoko sent off seven minutes from time, have lost their last five league matches.
Liverpool were without Daniel Sturridge, injured in last week’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Blackburn Rovers that has left him doubtful for Sunday’s semi-final with Aston Villa at Wembley.
However, Jordon Ibe returned to the starting line-up after six weeks out with a knee injury while Emre Can was back from suspension.
Newcastle made three changes from their derby defeat to Sunderland as Gabriel Obertan, Mehdi Abeid and Vurnon Anita replaced Sammy Ameobi, Yoan Gouffran and Jonas Gutierrez.
Liverpool showed plenty of intent early on as Sterling and Philippe Coutinho dropped deep in search of the ball, eager to run at Newcastle backline.
The home side’s early pressure yielded the opening goal in the ninth minute.
Sterling’s uncertainty over whether he will sign a new Liverpool contract has led to accusations of greed from some Liverpool fans but his ninth-minute goal went some way to restoring his reputation with supporters.
Jordan Henderson’s cross-field pass was adroitly cushioned by Sterling, who cut inside Ryan Taylor and curled a finish high into the net past the outstretched palm of Tim Krul.
The Newcastle goalkeeper was called into action shortly afterwards when a cleverly-worked Liverpool free-kick on the edge of the visitors’ box saw Henderson slip in Coutinho, only for his low shot to be saved.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance, the away team flickered into life shortly before the half-hour mark when Gabriel Obertan’s cross dropped for Mehdi Abeid but he could only shoot straight at Simon Mignolet.
Lucas Leiva should have increased Liverpool’s lead when he found himself unmarked and got his head on a Henderson free-kick, only for Dutch international Krul to save spectacularly at close range.
Newcastle manager John Carver leapt out of the dugout, arms outstretched, shortly after when the Magpies were denied what
appeared to be a clear penalty. —AFP
