After a difficult first half of the season, earlier today, Liverpool concluded 2014 with a resounding 4-1 win over Swansea City at Anfield.
A brace from Adam Lallana followed a goal from Alberto Moreno, and the Reds' win was capped off by an embarrassing own goal by Jonjo Shelvey.
It was a much-needed three points for Brendan Rodgers and his team as last season's Premier League runners-up have found things tough as they struggle to even stay in the top half of the league table.
Often criticized striker Mario Balotelli has now finished the first part of the season sans a single league goal for his new side, but that was not one of the major talking points of the game.
Rather, it was Raheem Sterling. The young attacker was involved in a spat with Swansea's Federico Fernandez late into the match, and while it is not unusual for players to be mixing it up, he just so happened to hit his opponent right in front of the match official!
Sterling not only was not shown a straight red, but in fact, received no warning whatsoever from the referee, which perplexed neutrals and infuriated some, especially Arsenal fans because Olivier Giroud was given his marching orders after headbutting his opponent in their 2-1 win over QPR.
Check out some of the reactions to the Sterling incident...and the game overall below:
The narrative after this game should be how much better Liverpool are without Gerrard. Completely undeniable after today.
— PhantomGoal (@PhantomGoal) December 29, 2014
Sterling has to get retrospective ban. No alternative. And it has to be 3 games. Law doesn't distinguish the force of the contact.
— B H (@finchleygunner) December 29, 2014
Like Girouds soft coming together of heads got three. FA have no option. Otherwise its inconsistent.
— B H (@finchleygunner) December 29, 2014
Sterling lucky to avoid a red but the linesman must not have had a good view of it pic.twitter.com/ig4QwNSpuz
— Ross Elder (@rosselder2) December 29, 2014
All them times I have seen players sent off for raising their hands, now it's OK it seems #Sterling
— Fred C (@Fredcfc) December 29, 2014
Someone get the linesman down to @Specsavers! How did he not see #Sterling's slap?! #LFCvSCFC
— Zaynab (@RelapsedHermit) December 29, 2014