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FA Cup: Moses, Sturridge send Liverpool through

Strikers help Reds beat Bournemouth 2-0 to ease into fifth round.

Afp January 25, 2014

Daniel Sturridge scored his third goal in three games since returning from a seven-week injury lay-off. PHOTO: LFC

LONDON:

Liverpool avoided a potential FA Cup banana skin on Saturday when they won 2-0 at second-tier Bournemouth to book their place in the fifth round.

Beneath bright winter sunshine, Liverpool withstood an enterprising start from their hosts before taking the lead in the 26th minute.

Luis Suarez’s cross field pass from the right flank found Victor Moses, who shifted the ball onto his right foot before drilling a low shot inside the left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.

Daniel Sturridge made it 2-0 with half an hour remaining, running onto Suarez’s dinked pass and tucking the ball past goalkeeper Lee Camp in front of watching England manager Roy Hodgson.

It was Sturridge’s third goal in three games since he returned from a seven-week lay-off with an ankle injury, and the England striker almost added another with a deft lob that hit the top of the crossbar.

Podolski key for Arsenal, says Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes the performance of Lukas Podolski in the FA Cup win over Coventry demonstrated the impact they can have during the closing weeks of the campaign.

Podolski struck twice in a 4-0 victory as he continues his return to full fitness following a hamstring injury.

Podolski’s goal-threat in particular provided a welcome boost to the Arsenal manager, who could still bring in another striker during the January transfer window as he seeks back-up for Olivier Giroud.

“Podolski can score goals and when you have a goal chance you want him to have it because he is a clinical finisher,” said Wenger.

“He has an unbelievable short and quick back lift and he is very accurate in his finishing. He can score goals when he starts; when he comes on he is always dangerous.”

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s focus will switch back from the transfer market to Chelsea’s bid for silverware when Stoke visit Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

Mourinho warned his team faces a testing challenge against Mark Hughes’ side.

“Everybody knows who Stoke is: very physical, very direct, strong on set-pieces, they come here to compete,” he said. “I expect a very difficult match.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2014.

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