Bournemouth 1 - 3 Liverpool

Lazar Markovic's precise finish doubled the lead, but the Reds were thankful for Yann Kermorgant's glaring miss.

Sterling stroked in after the break and, although Dan Gosling bundled in to set nerves on edge, the Reds held on.

The victory should provide a welcome shot of confidence for a Liverpool side that had won only two of their previous 10 games and face an in-form Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Sterling's brace was the first time he has found the net for his club since September and, after missing a succession of chances in the weekend's defeat by Manchester United, he looked more composed in a new central role.

With Liverpool struggling and Bournemouth topping the Championship on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run, only 10 league places separated the sides at kick-off.

(BBC)