(MENAFN- Arab Times) LONDON Oct 19 (AFP): Liverpool's Raheem Sterling ended a difficult week on a high as the teenager inspired his side's dramatic 3-2 win over QPR in an incredible finish featuring three goals in stoppage time at Loftus Road on Sunday. Sterling had endured widespread derision after England manager Roy Hodgson revealed the Reds star had told him he was too tired to play in last weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia.
The 19-year-old's commitment to his country and passion for the sport were subsequently questioned but Sterling made a point to the critics as he played the entire 90 minutes at Loftus Road and produced two key contributions to seal the points for Brendan Rodgers's men. With Hodgson watching from the stands Sterling who began his career as a QPR trainee won a free-kick which led to Hoops defender Richard Dunne turning into the net for Liverpool's second-half opener. That set the stage for an astonishing finale as Eduardo Vargas equalised with three minutes left only for Philippe Coutinho to restore Liverpool's lead in the 90th minute. Vargas levelled again in stoppage time but Liverpool still emerged with three points thanks to Sterling whose cross was deflected into his own net by QPR defender Steven Caulker with virtually the last kick of the match. Not for the first time this season Liverpool were well below their best for long periods but somehow they were able to secure a morale-boosting victory ahead of Wednesday's crunch Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Leroy Fer should have put the hosts ahead just before the half-hour mark when Bobby Zamora's cutback picked out the Dutch midfielder in yards of space inside the penalty area but instead he fired his shot onto the crossbar. Liverpool's notoriously creaky defence remained in danger of crumbling and there was another moment of mayhem in the visitors' area when Martin Skrtel's poor clearance let in Zamora down the right. Fer should have punished goalkeeper Simon Mignolet's failure to collect Zamora's cross but his header hit the bar before Sandro's attempt to force in the rebound was hacked clear by Glen Johnson. Rodgers's side were faring no better in front of goal and Mario Balotelli's lethargic performance was summed up when he somehow blazed over an open goal from close range. Sterling had been the catalyst for that Liverpool break and the teenager played a key role again when the Reds took the lead in the 67th minute. Battling for possession on the right flank Sterling won a free-kick which he cleverly took quickly while QPR were still regrouping. Stoke 2 Swansea 1 In Stoke-On-Trent Stoke came from behind to beat Swansea 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday as they climbed to 10th in the English Premier League table. Victory left Mark Hughes's men level on points with Manchester United Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. It was a tale of two penalties as the first half ended all square at 1-1. Referee Michael Oliver first pointed to the spot after Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross grappled Wilfried Bony to the ground as the pair waited for a Swansea corner to come in. Shawcross was booked while the decision was met with disbelieving jeers from Stoke fans who in common with many English football-watchers had grown used to seeing such incidents go unpunished. However Oliver had issued a warning before the corner. Ivory Coast striker Bony then got up to send Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic the wrong way as Swansea went 1-0 up in the 34th minute. But shortly before the interval Stoke were level when Oliver awarded a penalty at the other end. Swansea's Angel Rangel made minimal contact with Victor Moses who then appeared to dive in the box. Nevertheless Oliver signalled a penalty and Charlie Adam's spot-kick beat the dive of Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski. The 67th minute saw Swansea's South Korea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng twice denied as he tried to restore the Welsh club's lead but his first shot from 12 yards out was blocked and the follow-up saved by Begovic. Instead it was Stoke who went 2-1 up nine minutes later when Jonathan Walters planted a header beyond Fabianski following a good cross by Oussama Assaidi for his first league goal of the season. As the match entered the final minute of normal time Ki tried to curl in a 25-yard free-kick but Begovic repelled the effort and Swansea were unable to force an equaliser in four minutes of added-on time. Standings P W D L GF GA Pts Chelsea 8 7 1 0 23 8 22 Man City 8 5 2 1 18 8 17 Southampton 8 5 1 2 19 5 16 West Ham 8 4 1 3 15 11 13 Liverpool 8 4 1 3 13 12 13 Man Utd 7 3 2 2 13 10 11 Arsenal 8 2 5 1 13 11 11 Swansea 8 3 2 3 11 10 11 Hotspur 8 3 2 3 10 11 11 Stoke 8 3 2 3 8 9 11 Hull 8 2 4 2 13 13 10 Aston Villa 8 3 1 4 4 12 10 Everton 8 2 3 3 16 16 9 Leicester 8 2 3 3 11 13 9 West Brom 7 2 2 3 8 9 8 Crystal Palace 8 2 2 4 11 14 8 Sunderland 8 1 5 2 8 15 8 Newcastle 8 1 4 3 8 14 7 Burnley 8 0 4 4 4 13 4 QPR 8 1 1 6 6 18 4 Note: Standings read as played won draw lost goals for goals against & points.
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