There was no conversation last week between Gareth Southgate and Raheem Sterling when he was overlooked again for the England squad. The Chelsea forward, however, did his talking on the pitch by inspiring a comeback victory at Turf Moor and a third successive win for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino.
It has been a testing campaign for Sterling. He did receive a call from Southgate when he was dropped last month but even the injury to Eberechi Eze did not see him return to the fold, with Jarrod Bowen preferred.
For Chelsea he has been on the bench as Pochettino’s team started winning but here was a reminder of his match-winning capabilities. After falling behind to Wilson Odobert’s goal, Sterling induced an own goal from Ameen Al Dakhil, won a penalty for Cole Palmer and scored the third himself. He also made a goal for Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea fans started a party in the Cricket Field Stand.
“Raheem is a player with experience and he knows he needs to perform and show the manager of the national team that he is wrong,” said Pochettino. “Only with performances and scoring goals is he going to show that he deserved to go. When you are not involved in the squad, it is about showing you deserve to be there. Performance is the only way to show that.”
Pochettino’s starting line-up cost £435 million yet there are still signs of this side being an assembly expensive of signings rather than a cohesive team. It needs slices of luck or individual skill to earn results while Pochettino gets to work on the training ground, and Sterling’s class created those moments for his team.
He remains the second highest international scorer available to Southgate - behind Harry Kane - and this was a strong case for him to be back in his squad. Chelsea were struggling, staring at an embarrassing result before Sterling took control of the game.
It is easy to forget how traumatic this year has been for Sterling with the break-in at his property during the World Cup. Police announced recently they are searching for three men linked to the incident that saw Sterling fly home from Qatar mid-tournament. He came back and played for the final 11 minutes of the quarter-final defeat to France and has not been picked since.
For Chelsea, he looked good against Luton but as Pochettino looked for a formula to turn around results, it was Sterling who made way, and he may not have returned had Mykhailo Mudryk not picked up a knock in the win over Fulham. But his experience will be needed if Chelsea are to climb the table in the next months.
“I am so pleased because I think he needs to feel the net and he is a player with experience that can provide a very good thing for the team,” Pochettino added. “He created a penalty and then he scored and he was involved for the first goal, the own goal. He’s an experienced player and he needs to provide many things to the team.”
Chelsea still look shaky at the back, which Burnley exposed once they made themselves room on the right flank. Thiago Silva should have brought down Lyle Foster but allowed him to run, with the ball worked for Odobert to score on his full debut after joining this summer from French club Troyes.
Sterling took the game to the hosts by running at Vitinha, who was helped by Mike Tresor. But both backed away from him for the equaliser which saw Sterling drive into the area and see his cross loop off Al Dakhil and and over goalkeeper James Trafford. Al Dakhil’s afternoon was over shortly after when he was subbed at half-time.
Chelsea took the lead when Sterling ran at Vitinha again and was brought down just in the area. Palmer waited for VAR to check the decision before cooly scoring his first goal for his new club since his arrival from Manchester City.
Sterling added the third, racing onto Conor Gallagher’s pass and finishing. He then delivered a cross that split Burnley’s defence and saw Jackson score. When Sterling was taken off for a breather with eight minutes left, Chelsea fans showed their appreciation. There was a clear message to Southgate that he will fight for his place back in the England squad.
“I wouldn’t say I had something to prove,” said Sterling. “I took the strike and I’m happy to score. We’re just building, that’s all we can do. Just keep building and keep working on the training field to replicate that in matches.”
