Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has cautioned about placing too much expectation on Daniel Sturridge following his goalscoring return to action in a 2-0 win at home to West Ham United.
After Raheem Sterling put Liverpool ahead, second-half substitute Sturridge doubled the Merseysiders’ lead after five months out with thigh and calf injuries.
Despite that absence, the England international showed no signs of rustiness as he produced a clinical finish to score just 13 minutes after coming on to the pitch at Anfield.
But Rodgers urged fans to be patient with the 25-year-old forward, even though Sturridge finished off the kind of chance Liverpool’s goal-shy strikers have missed all season.
“It was nice for him and he’s been out for a long time,” Rodgers said.
“It’s about managing his game time. When he’s in that area he’s shown for us over a couple of years here that he is lethal.
“Daniel is a top-class player, he has shown that in his career so far. He worked very hard and the first opportunity that came his way he took.
“It was a great first touch and a wonderful finish. I’m delighted for him. You can see it is now just about managing his game-time and introduction into the team.”
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was left out of the starting line-up because of a slight hamstring injury.
However, the 34-year-old midfielder is in line to make his 700th Liverpool appearance in their FA Cup fourth-round replay with Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday.
And having seen Sterling's 51st-minute strike and Sturridge's shot 10 minutes from time secure victory over West Ham, Rodgers reckoned his side were approaching their best form of the campaign as they look to compete for a Champions League place. Saturday's win left Liverpool seventh in the Premier League, but brought them three points behind Southampton in fourth. Southampton play Swansea City on Sunday.
“The penetration and, slowly, the performance is getting better and better,” he said.
“Offensively, we were bright and the positioning of the team was good with really good tactical discipline in the team.
“And Simon Mignolet coming and dealing with things in the box, because there were a lot of aerial duels that you have got to deal with, the team stood up to that very well.
“They pressed the game well and got their rewards for that. It was an outstanding performance.”
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce felt injuries proved costly for the London club, with both Andy Carroll and James Collins limping off clutching their hamstrings.
“We had too many injuries, and in the second half and we dropped off too deep and allowed Sterling much more space,” Allardyce said.
“It wasn’t our day and we didn’t really have enough to cause them problems.”
Allardyce also confirmed that he did not select striker Diafra Sakho because of an ongoing row with Senegal over his eligibility.
Senegal have reportedly complained to Fifa, football’s global governing body, after Sakho missed the Africa Cup of Nations with a back injury but then played for his club.
Fifa rules state a player cannot play for a club if he is meant to be on international duty.
“Sakho was not in the team because of the situation we are in with Fifa,” Allardyce explained.
“While it’s happening it’s not conducive to pick him and we’ll look at that as quickly as possible.
“If you speak to the lad, he is just concerned about being denied the opportunity to play football. But it’s the rules and regulations. It’s sensible to do the right thing until it’s resolved.
“It was a recommendation that we shouldn’t pick him because of the ongoing situation.”
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Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
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Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
More on Quran memorisation:
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court (4pm UAE/12pm GMT)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Heather Watson (GBR)
Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) v Karen Khachanov (RUS x30)
Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Fabio Fognini (ITA x28)
Court 1 (4pm UAE)
Steve Johnson (USA x26) v Marin Cilic (CRO x7)
Johanna Konta (GBR x6) v Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Venus Williams (USA x10)
Court 2 (2.30pm UAE)
Aljaz Bedene (GBR) v Gilles Muller (LUX x16)
Peng Shuai (CHN) v Simona Halep (ROM x2)
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) v Sam Querrey (USA x24)
Court 3 (2.30pm UAE)
Kei Nishikori (JPN x9) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18)
Carina Witthoeft (GER) v Elina Svitolina (UKR x4)
Court 12 (2.30pm UAE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) v Ana Konjuh (CRO x27)
Kevin Anderson (RSA) v Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)
Court 18 (2.30pm UAE)
Caroline Garcia (FRA x21) v Madison Brengle (USA)
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Jerzy Janowicz (POL)
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