Sterling played a vital role in turning Chelsea's game around, scoring once and setting up two more. Photo: PA Wire/Richard Sellers
There was no conversation between Gareth Southgate and Raheem Sterling last week when he was again left out of the England squad. However, the Chelsea striker had his say on the pitch, inspiring him to a comeback win at Turf Moor and a third win in a row for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino.
This was a test campaign for Sterling. He got a call from Southgate when he was sacked last month, but even Eberechi Eze's injury prevented him from returning to the side in favor of Jarrod Bowen.
At Chelsea he was on the bench when Pochettino's side started to win, but it was a reminder of his match-winning ability. After going behind Wilson Odobert's goal, Sterling scored an own goal from Amin Al-Dakhil, won a penalty for Cole Palmer and scored the third goal himself. He also scored against Nicholas Jackson as Chelsea fans partied in the cricket stand.
“Rahim is an experienced player and he knows he needs to step up and show the national team coach that he can . he is wrong,” Pochettino said. “Only by playing and scoring goals can he prove that he deserves to leave. When you're not on the team, it's about showing that you deserve to be there. The only way to prove it is through performance.”
Cole Palmer scored his first goal for Chelsea from the penalty spot. Photo: PA Wire/Richard Sellers
Pochettino's starting XI costs £435m, but there are still signs that this team is a ragtag team requiring expensive transfers rather than a cohesive team. It takes luck or individual skill to produce results as Pochettino gets to work on the training ground, and Sterling's class has created those moments for his side.
He remains Southgate's second-highest international goalscorer – behind Harry Kane – and that was a strong argument for his return to the team. Chelsea struggled with an embarrassing result before Sterling took control of the game.
It's easy to forget how traumatic this year has been for Sterling due to his property being broken into during the World Cup. Police recently announced they were looking for three men involved in an incident when Sterling was flying home from Qatar in the middle of the tournament. He returned to play the last 11 minutes of the quarter-final defeat to France and has not been picked since.
He looked good against Luton but Pochettino was looking for a formula to turn things around. As a result, it was Sterling who made way and he might not have returned had Mikhail Mudrik not been knocked out in the win over Fulham. But his experience will be needed if Chelsea are to climb the table in the coming months.
“I’m very happy because I think he needs to have a feel for the goal and he’s an experienced player who can bring a lot of value to the team,” Pochettino added. “He created a penalty and then scored and scored the first goal, an own goal. He is an experienced player and he has a lot to give to the team.”
Chelsea still look shaky at the back, which Burnley exposed when they made room on the right flank. Thiago Silva should have brought down Lyle Foster but allowed him to run as the ball set up Odobert to score on his debut since joining from French club Troyes this summer.
Chelsea won their third victory in a row in all competitions. Photo: Getty Images/Darren Walsh
Sterling took the game home for the hosts with a run through Vitinier, assisted by Mike Tresor. But both backed away from him to equalize, causing Sterling to drive into the box and see him curl a cross past Al Dakhil and over goalkeeper James Trafford. Al-Dakhil's day ended shortly after he was substituted at half-time.
Chelsea took the lead when Sterling again ran at Vitinha and was brought down just inside the box. Palmer waited for VAR to review the decision before calmly scoring his first goal for his new club since his move from Manchester City.
Sterling added a third when he latched on to Conor Gallagher's pass to finish. He then unleashed a cross that split the Burnley defense for Jackson to score. When Sterling was taken off for a breather with eight minutes remaining, Chelsea fans showed their appreciation. Southgate has been given a clear signal that he will fight for his place in the England team.
“I wouldn't say I have anything to prove,” Sterling said. “I took the shot and I’m happy to score. We just build, that's all we can do. Just keep building and keep working on the training pitch to replicate this in matches.”
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