Raheem Sterling carved himself a niche in Liverpool's football history by becoming their second youngest player - after Michael Owen - to score at the highest level.
The Jamaican-born winger, who will not be 18 until December 8, provided the clinical finish to a superbly chipped pass from Luis Suarez in the 29th minute.
If the goal underlined the wisdom of former manager Rafa Benitez's acquisition when he paid Queens Park Rangers an initial £600,000, rising to a possible £5million, for a kid who was then just two months past his 15th birthday, it also prevented the focus of the Merseysiders' first home league win of the season falling on controversial Uruguay striker Suarez.
Give youth a chance: Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for Liverpool to secure a vital home win
MATCH FACTS
Liverpool:
Jones, Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Sahin (Shelvey
63), Suso (Jose Enrique 74), Suarez, Sterling (Henderson 84).
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Jose Enrique, Assaidi, Henderson, Downing, Carragher, Shelvey.
Booked: Agger
Goal: Sterling 30
Reading: McCarthy, Cummings, Gorkss, Mariappa, Shorey, Kebe, Guthrie (Roberts 81), Leigertwood, Karacan (McCleary 25), McAnuff, Pogrebnyak (Le Fondre 74).
Subs not used: Stuart Taylor, Gunter, Pearce, Le Fondre, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Roberts.
Booked: Mariappa
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Att: 44,874
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Jose Enrique, Assaidi, Henderson, Downing, Carragher, Shelvey.
Booked: Agger
Goal: Sterling 30
Reading: McCarthy, Cummings, Gorkss, Mariappa, Shorey, Kebe, Guthrie (Roberts 81), Leigertwood, Karacan (McCleary 25), McAnuff, Pogrebnyak (Le Fondre 74).
Subs not used: Stuart Taylor, Gunter, Pearce, Le Fondre, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Roberts.
Booked: Mariappa
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Att: 44,874
But the referee got the full confrontational treatment from Steven Gerrard and Co when he failed to award Suarez another free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
The South American, tumbling under another challenge from Gorkss, appeared to be caught on the thigh by the Latvian defender's knee and it was enough for him to limp disconsolately off the pitch at the interval, giving every indication that his afternoon's work could be over.
But Suarez was still there at the end, even if the injury looked to have taken the edge off his pace. He even managed a wry smile when he was clearly fouled in injury-time by Adrian Mariappa, who earned himself a yellow card.
It is a pity that when anybody thinks of Suarez, they regard his talent for going to ground as being more conspicuous than his superb vision, brilliant passing and ceaseless workrate.
When he was on his feet, he showed little signs of his 14,000-mile round trip playing for Uruguay against Bolivia three days earlier. The chances he missed, and there were several, were the only blemish on a performance of the highest merit.
Red leaves them dead: Sterling outpaced the Reading defence and blasted home with aplomb
And his former club did not make it easy, causing many anxious moments in the home defence in the closing stages after Gareth McCleary wasted a great chance of an equaliser in the 53rd minute.
Rodgers revealed that Suarez had needed extensive treatment at halftime for a dead leg and said: 'He was again fantastic today. He got back late Thursday, trained Friday morning and then still goes out and runs and works and gives his all for the team. He didn't want to come off. He's an incredible character.
Young at heart: Fresh from signing a new deal, Suso produced the goods for Brendan Rodgers
Tumble and fall: Luis Suarez was a constant nuisance and there was no sign of his theatrics
'He missed some chances and he'll want
to be a wee bit more clinical in his finishing, but going forward we
need to get players around him who will take the load off him as well.'
Rodgers had a special word of praise for Sterling, declaring: 'I am very pleased for him. It's a part of his game we've been working on. It was a wonderful finish because he was going away from the goal and he has a quick defender tracking him and he finishes it really well across the keeper. He's a terrific talent.
'We should have had three points here long before today. But on the back of an international break and players travelling all around the world, I though it was a terrific performance. We need to improve our finishing - we had 19 shots at goal - but as long as we get the three points and keep a clean sheet, I am delighted.'
Reading boss Brian McDermott was aggrieved at leaving Anfield without any reward. 'We can take a lot of positives out of the game. I honestly thought we deserved a point. We've only been out of the game once this season, against Tottenham, and we were definitely in this one.'
Rodgers had a special word of praise for Sterling, declaring: 'I am very pleased for him. It's a part of his game we've been working on. It was a wonderful finish because he was going away from the goal and he has a quick defender tracking him and he finishes it really well across the keeper. He's a terrific talent.
Head for heights: Nuri Sahin continued to adapt to life in England and was given a hard time
Ticking it over: Despite Mikele Leigertwood's efforts, Joe Allen was able to dominate the pace in midfield
'We should have had three points here long before today. But on the back of an international break and players travelling all around the world, I though it was a terrific performance. We need to improve our finishing - we had 19 shots at goal - but as long as we get the three points and keep a clean sheet, I am delighted.'
Reading boss Brian McDermott was aggrieved at leaving Anfield without any reward. 'We can take a lot of positives out of the game. I honestly thought we deserved a point. We've only been out of the game once this season, against Tottenham, and we were definitely in this one.'
The Premier League's youngest goalscorers
No comments:
Post a Comment