Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge engineered England’s 2-0 victory over Malta in Gareth Southgate’s first game in-charge.
After all the controversy that clouded English football over the course of the last month, the Three Lions led by temporary boss Gareth Southgate were hard-pressed to deliver against Malta in their World Cup Qualifying game at Wembley. And deliver they did, with a man-of-the-match performance from Jordan Henderson paving the way for a comfortable victory for England on the night.
Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli got their names on the score-sheet as Southgate got off to a winning start to his reign as English boss with a 2-0 success. Although it was a good performance from the Three Lions, their victory was more to do with the sheer gulf in quality between them and Malta. The Mediterranean islanders managed just a solitary shot on goal in the entirety of the 90 minutes.
The teams are in!
Here’s how the #ThreeLions will line up against Malta in this evening @FIFAWorldCup qualifier: pic.twitter.com/43P8VZM7C1
— England (@England) October 8, 2016
Jordan Henderson has been in brilliant form for Liverpool in recent weeks and the midfielder took his impressive level of performances from club level on to the international stage, setting up both of England’s goals. Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring for the Reds in the 29th minute when Henderson delivered a pin-point cross into the Malta box before the Reds’ striker executed a brilliant header to send the ball into the net.
Henderson ️➡️ Sturridge ⚽️
A goal made on Merseyside. pic.twitter.com/zv8BoI0N8K
— bet365 (@bet365) October 8, 2016
Sturridge goal with a Henderson assist ?
— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) October 8, 2016
WHAT A GOAL! Sturridge scores a beautiful header to give England the lead against Malta. #ENGMAL
— Copa90 (@Copa90) October 8, 2016
Goal made in Liverpool, Henderson cross, Sturridge header. England 1-0.
— Joseph Musker (@Musker_LFC) October 8, 2016
Brilliant header from the classy but fragile Sturridge gives England the lead.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 8, 2016
Sturridge is back pic.twitter.com/ySa1zrdbUo
— Premier League (@EPLFootbalI) October 8, 2016
Brilliant goal. That’s why Sturridge is such a special player, terrific header. 1-0.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) October 8, 2016
Watching that Daniel Sturridge attempt like… ? pic.twitter.com/OaX9YI8Grw
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) October 8, 2016
Calm down #LFC fans.. good cross from Henderson and nicely finished by Sturridge! 1-0 #ENGMAL
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) October 8, 2016
Sturridge Goal and Henderson assist for England ? #LFC pic.twitter.com/shmGHRckfH
— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) October 8, 2016
Say what you like about the performance, regardless of opposition, Daniel Sturridge’s header was exceptional.
— David Preece (@davidpreece12) October 8, 2016
Dele Alli then doubled England’s advantage in the 38th minute when Henderson affected a brilliant surge forward before setting up the Tottenham midfielder. Alli’s first-time shot was struck directly at the goalkeeper before the 20-year-old slotted the rebound into the back of the net.
GOAL! (37) Dele Alli stabs in England’s second goal after good work from Henderson. #ENGMAL
— Match of the Day Mag (@MOTDmag) October 8, 2016
Dele Alli puts his name on the scoresheet…#ENGMAL https://t.co/1hBebEu5le
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) October 8, 2016
A delighted @Dele_Alli celebrates his goal at Wembley! pic.twitter.com/vWpmH5hefZ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 8, 2016
2-0. Henderson been good tonight (against Malta) powerful run. Alli excellent reactions.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) October 8, 2016
Dele Alli showing why he is the best midfielder in International football.
When was the last time you saw Mesut Özil score for England?
— Lee Hunt (@LeeHunt1882) October 8, 2016
Meanwhile, Rooney’s dismal run of form and poor outings continued as the Manchester United midfielder was subjected to a fresh bout of social media trolls after he was nutmegged by a Maltese part-time footballer.
Watching #Rooney play these days. Sigh !#ENGMAL pic.twitter.com/QsKfcXnLDh
— Vasudev Krishnan (@vk_jft96) October 8, 2016
Wayne Rooney got nutmegged by a plumber this evening… #ENGMALhttps://t.co/FOpczoH6cK
— BigSport (@BigSportGB) October 8, 2016
Sum up Wayne Rooney’s performance in an emoji: ?????????? or ?? pic.twitter.com/Aq0SkunbGm
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) October 8, 2016
Rooney is a hopeless midfielder. Pass side to side and backwards, obvious long prepared telegraphed passes, poor running on long shots
— Indigo ? (@IndigoLFC) October 8, 2016
While it definitely was a positive start to a new era, the game wasn’t anywhere close to promising with Alli and Henderson even admitting after the game that the Three Lions should have fired more past the Maltese net. Fans avoided boarding the hype train after a rather average performance from England and said that there was still a lot left to do for Southgate.
#eng underwhelming after decent half. Henderson good, Alli/Stones too, Rashford must start, Rooney fading. Maltese fans lively. Forgettable.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) October 8, 2016
Sam Allardyce watching the #ENGMAL game like… pic.twitter.com/0rMT9AA9qM
— NOW TV Sport (@NOWTVSport) October 8, 2016
New era for England much like the previous 27. Grim.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) October 8, 2016
87 – England have had 87 shots (inc. blocks) over their last four international games, scoring just four goals in the process. Peppered.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 8, 2016
The most exciting part any England game is always the final whistle
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) October 8, 2016
That’s quite impressive as apple had restricted the tickets to paid member of the ios developer program , ios developer enterprise program, or mac developer program
