Premier League 2018-19, Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United: 5 talking points

#2 Is Sterling’s poor international record down to a lack of service?

Raheem Sterling scored his second goal of the season today

Despite England surpassing expectations in this summer’s World Cup by reaching the semi-finals, Raheem Sterling came under more criticism than any other player for his performances for the Three Lions.

At times – despite scaring opposition defenders with his pace and getting into great positions – it seemed that Sterling simply couldn’t score in an England shirt, a massive contrast to his club form as he hit 18 Premier League goals last season.

Sterling has started this season on great form too, and he’s already scored 2 goals for Man City in just three games, including a great finish today. So why does the former Liverpool ace struggle so much for England, when he seemingly finds it so easy to score goals for City?

BT Sport pundits Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas both came to the same conclusion after the game – that England simply doesn’t offer Sterling the same kind of classy service that his clubmates at City do.

It isn’t so much a tactical issue, more that the Three Lions lack a playmaker in the same class as someone like David Silva, Bernardo Silva or Kevin de Bruyne.

So perhaps it’s time for England fans to stop blaming Sterling for his supposedly poor performances – particularly in front of goal – and simply accept that in the current system, he can’t deliver in the same way as he does for his club.