If this game against Arsenal was a crucial one for Brendan Rodgers and his Liverpool team, it could hardly have gone any worse for them. And it could have massive repercussions for the club that their manager arrogantly suggested were bigger than Arsenal and more likely to provide the much talked about Raheem Sterling the chances for trophy success that he claims is uppermost in his mind.
Sterling was probably their best player but will not feel any more inclined to extend his Liverpool contract after Markovic blew the chance to set him up for an easy tap in to open the scoring. Then he had to watch his defensive team mates roll over and allow us to put the game to bed with eight minutes of magic before halftime.
Do you think it crossed Sterling´s mind that he would have loved to be involved in the great link up play and creative football that the likes of Ozil, Cazorla, Alexis and all provided? I am sure he will not be looking forward with too much relish to playing Europa League football on Thursday nights next season.
And with his club in a terrible state and with crushed morale heading into the FA cup replay away to Blackburn on Wednesday, Sterling could see his last chance of winning something this season disappear along with any realistic Champions League hopes.
Time for Arsene Wenger to put in a bid of £40 million and a pound perhaps?