LIVERPOOL: Raheem Sterling helped Liverpool keep alive their hopes of Champions League football next season with a comfortable 2-0 Premier League victory on Monday against a Newcastle United side who finished with 10 men at Anfield.

Sterling opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he downed a long cross on the left edge of the area and dribbled past two defenders before slotting a neat finish inside the far post.

Newcastle had a penalty claim waved away near the break when Dejan Lovren tripped Ayoze Perez in the area during a good spell for the visitors, but Liverpool dominated after the interval and Joe Allen volleyed in the second in the 70th.

Newcastle, who had Moussa Sissoko sent off for a second booking late on, were condemned to a fifth straight league defeat as Liverpool closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City to four points with six games remaining following back-to-back league defeats by Manchester United and Arsenal.

“We knew we had to put [those losses] right, and I think tonight we did, so it’s a great result for us,” Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson said. “We’ve still got ground to make up, but we just have to keep going, keep getting results.”

Fifth-placed Liverpool now have 57 points from 32 games, one point ahead of Southampton in sixth, and are closing in on ailing City who lost 4-2 at local rivals Manchester United on Sunday, while struggling Newcastle remain 13th with 35 points.

“Manchester City have maybe opened up the door a wee bit and if we keep winning our games we will see what will happen but I am sure that there will be plenty of twists and turns to come still,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

VALENCIA HOT ON ATLETICO’S TRAIL

MADRID: Valencia turned up the heat on Atletico Madrid in the fight for third place in La Liga when a 3-0 victory at home to cross-town rivals Levante on Monday lifted the Singapore-owned club to within a point of the champions with seven games left.

Paco Alcacer (L) of Valencia vies with Levante’s Loukas Vyntra during their La Liga match at the Mestalla Stadium. — AFP

Paco Alcacer nodded Valencia in front from a Dani Parejo centre in the 16th minute at the Mestalla before Lucas Orban crossed for Sofiane Feghouli to head a second for the home side nine minutes before the break.

Substitute Alvaro Negredo completed a resounding victory with a fine volleyed finish from outside the area in the third minute of added time.

Valencia, who missed out on a place in continental competition last season, consolidated fourth place on 65 points, three points clear of Sevilla, ahead of their trip to Barcelona on Saturday.

“We knew that it was going to be tough to move this team that likes to sit back and strike on the break,” Feghouli said.

“But we remained patient and attacked them from the flanks. We are going to try make things difficult for Barca and all we are thinking about is winning the next game.”

The top three places carry a berth in the Champions League group stage, while fourth earns a spot in qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play