Daniel Sturridge refused to take the plaudits after firing two sublime strikes to help Liverpool clinch a stunning 4-0 victory over Everton in the 222nd Merseyside derby on Tuesday night.
Sturridge’s quick-fire Anfield Road end brace put the game beyond the Blues, coming as it did in the space of two minutes to build on the slender lead established by Steven Gerrard’s header.
Philippe Coutinho threaded between the visitors’ back-line for Sturridge to apply a calm, trademark finish before the forward flicked Kolo Toure’s high pass over the onrushing Tim Howard to make it 3-0.
After Luis Suarez slotted the fourth in front of the Kop, the No.15 had the chance to make it five from the penalty spot; however, Sturridge shot over the bar from 12 yards.
Afterwards, he told Liverpoolfc.com: It was a very pleasing result. It was for the fans. We worked hard as a team and it was a great result in the end.
It was about the boys; it was about the team and the victory that we had. It wasn’t about me and the goals I scored; it was about doing a job for the boys.
The message was to go out there and work hard as a team and do a job for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. The manager emphasises that and he’s very keen for us to be like that and we were on the night.
A perfectionist, Sturridge admitted he was somewhat deflated after missing the opportunity to clinch a hat-trick from the spot when he smashed over the bar in the 54th minute.
His skipper, Gerrard, who made Liverpool history with an Anfield treble against the Blues in March 2012, wanted Sturridge to emulate his achievements and so handed him the ball, but it was not to be.
You could see when I came off that I was disappointed, said the 24-year-old. I was just devastated with myself for missing a penalty at the Kop end which would have sealed the victory and been the icing on the cake.
It was like a dream, but then I ended up shooting over the bar and I was deflated. But I’m blessed to even score two goals and to be out there with the boys.
You realise it was about the team performance and the 4-0 win. I’ve helped the boys get the victory. At the end of the day, it’s a penalty. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss and that’s the same in games as well.
The victory, which will live long in the memory of Kopites everywhere, opened up a four-point gap between Liverpool and their neighbours in the Barclays Premier League table.
With the two embroiled in a battle to clinch a Champions League spot next season, the game had been singled out as a vital one in the battle for fourth, physiologically at least, prior to kick off.
However, afterwards Sturridge urged perspective following the final whistle, insisting there could still be plenty of twists and turns between now and May.
I don’t think it’s really too big, insisted Sturridge. There’s 15 games left, so there’s a long journey and there’s nothing sealed yet, nothing guaranteed. We’ve just got to work hard and continue in every game until the end of the season.
