LFC stardust turns scrappy England display into emphatic win

Reds boss Jürgen Klopp could breathe a sigh of relief. No injuries, just another welcome injection of confidence for his prized assets as Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana proved to be their nation's match-winners against sorry Scotland.

Sturridge repaid Gareth Southgate's faith in picking him ahead of Tottenham's Harry Kane as his eighth England goal settled the nerves after an uncertain start.

The Reds striker has found himself playing second fiddle to Roberto Firmino at Anfield this term. He's been relegated to the role of impact sub but he's determined to regain his place and he grasped the chance to start for his country with his hands.

The debate will rumble on about his long-term prospects under Klopp but there is no doubt about his quality in the final third. Sturridge is a class act.

If Scotland had possessed a marksman blessed with his kind of predatory instincts the outcome could have been very different.

Lallana walked away clutching the bubbly after maintaining his blistering form for both club and country.

The attacking midfielder, who has blossomed as much as anyone under the guidance of Klopp, caused the Scots plenty of problems and a second England goal was reward for the shift he put in.

Jordan Henderson could also hold his head high as he also maintained the standards set in helping propel Liverpool to the Premier League summit.

The Reds trio could bask in the glory of England's biggest win over Scotland since May 1975 as a hat-trick of headers did the damage.

Victory in the first competitive clash between the nations for 17 years effectively guarantees that interim boss Southgate will get the job permanently with England now firmly in control of Group F. It also pushed Gordon Strachan to the brink.

This was international football with a difference at Wembley. Not a bland, meaningless affair but one with an edge, one that really mattered.

Initially the atmosphere was electric as 15,000 Scots made themselves heard. The booing of both anthems was swiftly followed by an impeccable period of silence and the playing of the Last Post to mark Armistice Day.

Both nations defied FIFA as their players wore black armbands adorned with poppies.

For the opening quarter of the contest England were sloppy and lethargic.

Stupid free-kicks were given away as the recalled Wayne Rooney piled senselessly into the back of Scott Brown.

Henderson found himself shifted out to the right of Eric Dier, who slowed everything down.

Strachan's men were given hope. They looked the hungrier, the team with the greater purpose. But for all their huffing and puffing they created precious little.

Their game plan was clear as they launched it long to try to utilise the pace of Leigh Griffiths but it was horribly one dimensional.

It was Raheem Sterling who brought England to life as he started to surge at the heart of Scotland's backline. They were reduced to kicking lumps out of him.

The breakthrough Wembley craved arrived on 24 minutes. Sturridge was heavily involved in the build up as he dropped off into space and linked play intelligently.

When Sterling's strike was blocked, Kyle Walker pounced on the loose ball and crossed for Sturridge, who expertly angled a header beyond Craig Gordon. It was a difficult finish made to look ridiculously easy.

That should have been the moment for England to kick on and demonstrate a gulf in class. It didn't happen.

Instead their commitment to playing it out from the back kept getting them into trouble. Scotland just weren't good enough to take advantage.

Grant Hanley spurned a free header before Griffiths took the wrong option when he failed to play in Robert Snodgrass.

The early stages of the second half brought more of the same with the visitors in the ascendancy.

James Forrest should have equalised but dragged his left-footer wide. John Stones then stuck out a boot to thwart Robert Snodgrass.

What followed was the classic sucker punch. Within seconds England countered and delivered the decisive blow.

Danny Rose's cross from the left was inviting and Lallana climbed to nod home from 12 yards. Liverpool 2 Scotland 0.

A devastated Strachan covered his head with his notepad and it didn't get any better for him.

Just past the hour mark more shoddy marking was punished by Cahill's glancing near post header from Rooney's corner.

England could and should have had more. A glorious one-two between Henderson and Lallana carved the Scots apart. Henderson's cross put it on a plate for Sterling but somehow he shovelled it over from close range.

It mattered little. To chants of 'easy, easy', England simply cruised to the finish line.

They had their Liverpool contingent to thank for turning a scrappy display against a woeful Scotland side into an emphatic win.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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