Raheem Sterling put Liverpool ahead midway through the first half at a sun-soaked Anfield, but Nathaniel Clyne lashed home an equaliser shortly before the hour mark following a neat exchange with debutant Dusan Tadic.
Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool looked destined to drop points in their first competitive game since the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, but with 11 minutes to play, Sterling teed up Sturridge to flick home the winning goal.
“We scored two very good goals and we’re delighted with the win,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports.
“In terms of the character and desire and the will to win, we were exceptional.”
With debutants Javier Manquillo and Dejan Lovren – a former Southampton defender – in their starting eleven, Liverpool dominated possession throughout the match.
Mourinho eyes strong start from Chelsea
Jose Mourinho’s belief that Chelsea are better equipped to challenge for the Premier League title faces an immediate test when his side travel to Burnley in their season opener on Monday.
Mourinho last year accused some of his players of lacking character when confronted by the kind of test Burnley will present.
But with his squad strengthened by arrival of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis and the return of Didier Drogba, the manager is confident Chelsea will prove more resilient this time around.
“My squad is very good, not perfect, but it’s very good,” said Mourinho.
“It has experience, it has characters and personalities; it has people with ambition. We covered many positions. I’m very happy with the squad.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2014.
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