Raheem Sterling is one of six nominees for the Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year award and he was in action for Manchester City against Tottenham.
It was not his most influential game as Press Association Sport analyses his performance.
A quiet afternoon
A hard-fought victory to get back on top today, great team spirit as nothing will be given ✊🏾💪🏾 #GoGetIt @mancity pic.twitter.com/IN2GShEPPx
— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) April 20, 2019
Even though he appeared to have the beating of Juan Foyth, Sterling was, by his standards, having a quiet game on the left and he was nowhere near as influential as he was on Wednesday when he was a constant threat and scored two goals. He had managed just one successful dribble and had produced no shots or key passes, despite City controlling the game. But Sergio Aguero’s substitution allowed him to move into a more central area and he instantly saw more of the action.
Missed chance
Sterling only had one opportunity to celebrate his nomination with a goal and it was one he perhaps should have buried. Leroy Sane did well down the left, cutting back to Sterling, who took up a great position eight yards out but saw his low shot brilliantly saved by Paulo Gazzaniga, who stuck out a foot to keep it out. It should have been his 30th goal for club and country this season, but he will have to wait for that particular landmark.
Frustration boiled over
Perhaps frustrated at not being at his absolute best, Sterling found himself squaring up to Davinson Sanchez and Gazzaniga. The England international carried on playing when the referee’s whistle had stopped and after the Spurs duo tried to retrieve the ball, Sterling got annoyed. Referee Michael Oliver took no action over that incident but did produce a yellow card after Sterling clashed with Jan Vertonghen late on.
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