Raheem Sterling scored the winner as Liverpool won 1-0 at Burnley on Friday to end a three-game winless run and keep their opponents in the Premier League relegation zone. It was a far from convincing performance by Brendan Rodgers's side and the outcome was tough on a Burnley team who lost at home for the first time in five outings.
But the result was all that mattered for Liverpool, whose position of 10th in the Premier League on Christmas Day was their lowest since 1992.
And it came thanks to Sterling, who, in the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge and with the returning Mario Balotelli being trusted only with a place on the bench, is currently being asked to lead Liverpool's attack.
The 20-year-old had not scored in the league since September, but his superbly taken sixth goal of the season, 17 minutes into the second half, at least edged Liverpool closer to the top-four place Rodgers believes they are still capable of securing.