Raheem Sterling’s goal drought may be over, but he achieved something much bigger than ending a personal slump on Saturday.
His strike against Manchester City, his former club, wasn’t just the opening goal in a 1-1 draw, it marked a historic Premier League first.
According to Opta, Sterling became the first player ever to score against Manchester City in both home AND away matches of the same season after leaving the club.
This adds to his impressive record at the Etihad, where he sits as the second-highest goalscorer with 52 goals, trailing only club legend Sergio Agüero (106).
However, the evening ended on a slightly sour note for Sterling.
Despite his historic achievement, he was the first player substituted off and appeared unhappy with the decision.
Whether it was fatigue, tactical reasons, or something else, remains to be seen.