Sterling Sets Up Chelsea Date

Raheem Sterling netted a double as Liverpool earned a 3-1 win against a spirited Bournemouth at the Goldsands Stadium to earn a place in the Capital One Cup semi-finals against Chelsea.

The home side started brightly, with Callum Wilson missing a glorious chance to put the Cherries in front in the opening five minutes.

However, Liverpool patiently kept possession and waited for their moment, and a fine move resulted in Sterling heading Brendan Rodgers' men into the lead.

Lazar Markovic, who was at the heart of most of the Reds' attacking threat, then scored his first goal for the club after Philippe Coutinho had seen his strike saved by Artur Boruc in the Bournemouth goal.

Sterling put further daylight between the Reds and the hosts early after the interval, showing great trickery and finishing prowess to fire across Boruc to net his second of the encounter.

Dan Gosling did finally get the south coast outfit on the scoresheet, after sliding the ball under Brad Jones in the Reds’ goal but the visitors managed to hold on despite late pressure from Eddie Howes' side.

The result will certainly ease the mounting pressure on Brendan Rodgers, though the Northern Irishman will have to get past one of his former clubs when Liverpool were drawn to play Chelsea. Tottenham face League One club Sheffield United in the other last-four tie.