Daniel Sturridge scores on Liverpool return in West Ham victory
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ByEurosport
Updated 31/01/2015 at 18:41 GMT
Premier League, Anfield - Liverpool 2 (Sterling 51, Sturridge 80) West Ham 0
Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge celebrates his goal during their English Premier League soccer match against West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England January 31, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
Daniel Sturridge marked his return from injury with a well-taken goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham.
Having missed the last five months through injury, Sturridge started the fixture on the bench and looked on as a toothless Liverpool struggled in the final third.
After a goalless first half, Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock for the hosts just minutes after the break, and the huge cheer that accompanied Sturridge’s introduction a short while later transformed into wild celebrations as the striker added Liverpool’s second.
Much of the focus prior to the clash at Anfield was firmly on West Ham’s Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing , who had left Merseyside for east London after failing to impress in the famous red shirt.
And with a point to prove against their former employers, it was Carroll and Downing who helped the visitors to take the game to Liverpool in the opening stages.
The imposing Carroll had the better of makeshift defender Emre Can; first of all forcing the Turk into nearly gifting the Hammers a goal with a wayward header, before leaving him in a heap after a stray elbow caught him in the mouth.
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Liverpool's Emre Can (R) is elbowed in the face by West Ham United's Andy Carroll during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England January 31, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
The first half, whilst action-packed, yielded few chances, and although Downing was busy in the final third, the former England winger almost gifted Liverpool a goal at the end of the first 45 minutes – only for a wasteful Lazar Markovic to pull his close-range shot wide.
Despite a relatively impressive first half, West Ham were disappointing following the break and managed just six minutes without conceding as Sterling raced through to coolly slot under Adrian.
Following the goal, the tempo of the match dipped significantly and it was only the introduction of Sturridge that brought the game to life once more.
And barely five minutes into his Liverpool return the striker had found the back of the net, sealing the three points for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
KEY MOMENTS
34’ - HALF-CHANCE! Amalfitano's crosses for Collins, who heads back across goal towards Carroll. The former Liverpool man is able to steer the game's first effort on goal, but Mignolet is able to make the save with ease.
45+1’ - MUST SCORE! Great opportunity for Liverpool right at the end of the half as Downing's wayward pass sends Markovic through on goal. The winger blasts wide from 12 yards, however.
51’ - GOAL!!Liverpool 1-0 West Ham. Raheem Sterling opens the scoring at Anfield. Sterling exchanges a lovely one-two with Coutinho on the edge of the penalty area before running through on goal and coolly slotting the ball past Adrian.
68’ –STURRIDGE RETURNS! Here he comes.... After five months out, Daniel Sturridge is introduced for Lazar Markovic.
81’ - GOAL!! Liverpool 2-0 West Ham. Sturridge scores on his return. Coutinho plays a huge part in the goal, driving forward from midfielder before sliding the striker through. Sturridge takes on touch to get the ball out of his feet and then drills it past Adrian from a tight angle.
KEY STATS
Liverpool stretch their unbeaten top flight home run against West Ham to 42 matches (W31-D11), stretching back to a 2-1 defeat on 14 September 1963.
West Ham lose their 14th PL away match against Liverpool. They have only lost more Premier League away matches at Manchester United (17).
Sam Allardyce equals David Moyes in managing the most Premier League matches at Anfield without ever winning (both 12).
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Liverpool's Raheem Sterling (R) celebrates his goal with teammate Philippe Coutinho during their English Premier League soccer match against West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England January 31, 2015 (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
Can Liverpool challenge for top four? Having endured a rough start to the season it seemed that Liverpool, who finished second in the Premier League last year, would miss out on qualifying for the Champions League as they surrendered point after point in disappointing results. However, in recent weeks, Brendan Rodgers’ men have slowly started making their way up the table, and with Sturridge now back they will surely look to push those above them come the end of the season.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) – Although the day was clearly all about Daniel Sturridge, his return and his goal, Raheem Sterling was the best player on the pitch and he deserves his MOM gong. Dangerous whenever he got hold of the ball, he was the driving force in Liverpool’s attacking play and got the all-important first goal.
PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool: Mignolet 5 , Can 5, Skrtel 6, Sakho 6, Henderson 7, Lucas 6, Moreno 6, Markovic 6, Lallana 7, Coutinho 7, Sterling 8. Subs: Sturridge 7, Ibe N/A
West Ham: Adrian 6, O'Brien 6, Collins 7, Reid 7, Cresswell 6, Song 7, Amalfitano 6, Nolan 6, Downing 6, Carroll 7, Valencia 6. Subs: Demel 5, Noble 6, Cole 5.
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