Sterling nets first Arsenal goal in League Cup romp, Liverpool crush West Ham

AFP | London

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Raheem Sterling scored his first Arsenal goal and Jack Porter became the club’s youngest-ever starter in a 5-1 rout of Bolton in the League Cup on Wednesday, while Liverpool reached the last 16 with a 5-1 win against troubled West Ham. Sterling marked his maiden Arsenal start following his transfer deadline day move from Chelsea with a second-half strike in the third-round tie at the Emirates Stadium.

The 29-year-old will hope his goal marks the start of a career revival after a disappointing two-year spell at Chelsea. “He was great. He’s started to show glimpses of what he can do. Physically, he needs to get to the level we require, but it was a massive step today,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said.

Arteta had made seven changes from Sunday’s stormy 2-2 draw at Premier League champions Manchester City, including giving goalkeeper Porter his record-breaking debut in place of the injured David Raya. Aged 16 years and 72 days old, Porter was the youngest player ever to start for Arsenal, surpassing the previous record holder Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years and 177 days when he played against Rotherham in 2003.

Porter was Arsenal’s second youngest-ever player overall after Ethan Nwaneri, who was 15 years and 181 days when he made his debut in 2022. “Jack has been training with us since pre-season. He reacted well and was composed. What an experience,” Arteta said.