Raheem Sterling Offered an EPL Miss-of-the-Year Contender vs. Manchester City

Raheem Sterling found a way to blast this inch-perfect pass from Luis Suarez into orbit during the second half of the Liverpool/Manchester City match Thursday. It would have tied the score at 2-2, but instead City went on to win 2-1. It meant City leapfrogs Liverpool and moves into second place in the table — a point behind Arsenal.

Sterling’s miss was only one isolated incident in one game of a 38-game campaign. And yes, when you don’t have playoffs, all the points add up the same way come May. Still, this miss might be one Liverpool fans look back on and regret — along with a narrow offside call against Sterling in the first half. Brendan Rodgers’ team will likely have more long-term regrets for allowing two relatively soft goals — especially Alvaro Negredo’s goal in first-half stoppage time on counter which the usually excellent Simon Mignolet misplayed. The conceded goals offset an otherwise strong effort from the club on the road.

Liverpool began the day in first place, but are now three behind Arsenal. The top five teams in the EPL table are separated by five points after 18 rounds of matches.

City grabs all three points and appear on the verge of overtaking Arsenal very early into 2014, thanks in main part to Vincent Kompany’s return to form along with nine wins in nine matches at the Etihad Stadium.

53 - Man City have equalled the PL record of 53 goals from the opening 18 games (set by City themselves in 2011-12). Parity.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2013

Alternately, what a pass from Suarez to put it right onto Sterling’s foot.