Sturridge wins it for unconvincing Liverpool

LIVERPOOL — Daniel Sturridge ensured Liverpool began the post-Luis Suarez era in victorious fashion, scoring a late goal to seal a 2-1 win over Southampton in their first match of the Premier League season last night.

Much will be expected of Sturridge this season after the summer departure of his strike partner and the England international showed his poacher’s instinct with a close-range finish in the 79th minute at Anfield.

That salvaged three points from an unconvincing start to the new campaign for last season’s runners-up, who took the lead through Raheem Sterling in the 23rd minute but lacked urgency for much of the game without the effervescent Suarez.

Southampton equalised in the 56th when Nathaniel Clyne slammed a fierce shot into the top corner and had chances to go ahead before Sturridge came to Liverpool’s rescue.

Even then, the victory was only just preserved as Morgan Schneiderlin struck the bar for Southampton in the 88th minute and substitute Shane Long headed the rebound just wide.

It’s been a busy summer at Anfield, with manager Brendan Rodgers using the proceeds of the sale of Suarez to Barcelona for £75 million (S$155.9 million) and spending about £100 million on new signings to bolster the squad for the extra fixtures that will come from playing in the Champions League.

Three of the new recruits came from Southampton — Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert — and Lovren started here, earning the Croatia centre-back boos and jeers throughout from away fans. Lambert was a second-half substitute.

The impact of Suarez’s departure was clear to see, though, with Liverpool lacking spark going forward and Sturridge often appearing isolated without his strike partner.

The goal came from one of the few chances he had. With Suarez gone and Rodgers playing only one up front in Sturridge, Liverpool will need more goals from midfielders this season and Sterling showed good composure with his finish.

The home crowd had been getting restless after a slow opening 20 minutes but came to life after Jordan Henderson won the ball in midfield, beat Schneiderlin in a 50-50 tackle and sent a glorious long ball through to Sterling. One on one with goalkeeper Fraser Forster, the England winger slipped a low shot into the bottom corner.

Little was expected of Southampton after the summer fire-sale of their best players but in Dusan Tadic, the south-coast team look to have a new player who can excite fans. Impressive in the first half, the Serbia winger — signed from Dutch club FC Twente — made Clyne’s equaliser with an exquisite back-heel into the path of the right-back, who thumped a shot into the top corner at the near post.

Liverpool fell off the pace at the start of the second half, but the introduction of substitutes Joe Allen and Lambert pepped up the Reds and when Sterling sent a header back into the danger area after a cross had been partially cleared, Sturridge pounced to begin the season as he finished the last. AP