Daniel Sturridge and captain Jordan Henderson came in for criticism for not taking a penalty as Liverpool lost the Capital One Cup final to Manchester City in a shootout earlier this month.
Sturridge’s excuse was that he was cramped up after 120 minutes of Wembley work.
The injury-prone goal machine was far from cramped after 20 minutes of tonight’s Europa League last 16 first-leg tie with Manchester United.
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Sturridge cooly slotted past United goalkeeper David de Gea from 12 yards after Nathaniel Clyne had been fouled by Memphis Depay.
Depay’s first contact with Clyne occurred outside of the penalty area, but the Dutchman then fouled the right-back again once he was inside the 18-yard box.
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