Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard grab the goals as Liverpool edge past Sunderland at Anfield. Adam Johnson climbs off the bench to play a part in the visitors’ consolation strike. Nikica Jelavic nets again for Hull, whilst the defensive worries build for West Ham ahead of a tough run of matches:
Sturridge and Gerrard Hog the Anfield Headlines
Whilst Luis Suarez had to make do with no more than a mere assist in last night’s narrow win over Sunderland, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard grabbed a goal apiece as Brendan Rodgers’ side won for the seventh game in succession. It’s four goals in four now for Gerrard, whose dead-ball abilities came to the fore yet again against Sunderland, with the 9.4-priced midfielder finding the net from a superbly taken free-kick.
Maximum bonus points for both goal scorers will have pleased their owners even further, whilst Gerrard’s growing ownership will also be relieved with his failure to earn a yellow card. The Reds’ skipper, who sits on nine bookings for the season, still has to navigate the next three league matches without picking up another caution – fall foul of the referee’s wrath and he’ll earn a two-match ban.
Sterling’s Appeal Waning
Elsewhere in the Merseysiders midfield, Raheem Sterling was benched for the third game in four since Brendan Rodgers moved to a diamond formation behind Suarez and Sturridge. The youngster had previously started 15 straight league matches from Gameweek 13-27 but has found himself a peripheral figure as Rodgers turns to Philippe Coutinho as his chief creator at the tip of the diamond. With Spurs, City and Chelsea in their next five fixtures, Liverpool’s defensive prospects are somewhat dented and with Sterling looking unlikely to guarantee game time, the Reds’ appeal looks limited to their premium-priced trio for the run-in.
Poyet’s Change of Tactics Leaves Johnson Benched
The wide man’s owners will be worried by a turn of events which saw him omitted from the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 20 last night. Gus Poyet’s decision to shift to 3-5-2 in order to stifle the hosts’ attack saw Emanuel Giacherrini handed a rare start, with Johnson afforded just 30 minutes to make a difference at Anfield. Encouragingly, he did just that – emerging from the bench to supply the assist for Ki Sung-Yeung’s consolation and with Sunderland still left with five home games still to follow, the Black Cats boss will be expected to re-install Johnson to his first XI as his side look to go on the offensive.
West Ham’s Resilience Slipping
Last night’s 2-1 win over Hull means the Hammers have failed to produce a clean sheet in the last six. Having been dropped against Stoke two Gameweeks ago for Winston Reid, James Collins, who produced an impressive 36 points between Gameweeks 23-26, was once again handed a start by his manager but the centre-back hobbled off just eight minutes into the game and has now emerged as a doubt for the weekend. Reid is also believed to be a doubt, with reports suggesting he missed last night’s match with a stomach bug. Despite James Chester’s calamitous own goal handing the Hammers a much needed victory, it’s clear that there’s better defensive value lying elsewhere from Upton Park at the moment – with Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and City still to follow, many will be looking elsewhere for budget backline options.
Jelavic Nets Again
A somewhat fortuitous goal helped the Croatian take his tally to four strikes since arriving at the KC in the winter transfer window. Priced at 6.7, Jelavic squares up to Stoke and Swansea next before a Gameweek 34 blank – following that, Steve Bruce’s side have Fulham and a double Gameweek 37 which may bring their assets back into consideration. The Tigers must do without Allan McGregor for the next two matches, though – he will miss the next couple of league after picking up his second red card of the season last night.
