Lazar Markovic Goal Sunderland 0 - 1 Liverpool...by goals5
In his first match since announcing his signing with the LA Galaxy, Steven Gerrard earned a start during Liverpool C’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light. However, the soon-to-be Galaxy midfielder was forced to exit early due to hamstring tightness.
Liverpool struggled in front of goal against the Black Cats but took all three points thanks to Lazar Markovic’s first league goal, which he scored early in the opening half. The goal itself came in the eighth minute when Gerrard fed Fabio Borini who passed it toward Markovic as he made a run down the right flank. The Serbian then worked his way through the Sunderland defense before scoring off a right-footed touch from close range.
The Reds had a slew of opportunities to add to their lead and even went up a man when Sunderland’s Liam Bridcutt was sent off in the 49th minute after picking up his second yellow card for tripping Liverpool’s Emre Can, but could not capitalize. Liverpool’s wastefulness nearly allowed 10-man Sunderland to steal a point late as Adam Johnson rattled the cross bar with a booming shot from beyond the penalty area that almost cost the Reds their victory.
But even as Liverpool won the day, Gerrard’s early exit drew the headlines as Dejan Lovren replaced the club captain at half time. Following the match, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told reporters that Gerrard will now be evaluated by the team’s medical staff after his precautionary exit.
"It was just precautionary,” Rodgers told reporters after the victory. "He'll have a scan on his hamstring. It just felt a little bit tight, so we'll just need to manage that and see how it is."
After the victory over the Black Cats, the Reds find themselves in eighth place in the Premier League table with 32 points in total, four behind Southampton for the all-important fourth spot which guarantees admission into next year’s UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool return to action next Saturday when they travel to Villa Park to take on U.S. National Team goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s Aston Villa.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
