'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The phenomenon called Luis Suarez has left Anfield but he will never be forgotten. His partner in crime, Daniel Sturridge has had an injury-riddled season and hasn’t played since the end of August. In the light of these events, the player who is trying really hard to keep the Liverpool flag flying high is 20-year-old Raheem Sterling.
The young pacy winger has gone from being a promising teenager to becoming an important part of both the Liverpool, as well as the England setup. His raw pace, hunger and his ability to commit defenders has seen him become a favourite among Liverpool fans.
His talent was there to see since he was a kid
Sterling was a youth team player at Queens Park Rangers before he was signed by Rafa Benitez at the tender age of 15.
His first footballing mentor, QPR youth team coach, Steve Callen still remembers the first proper football match he saw Sterling play in. “It was an Under 12 match against Wycombe,” he said.
“Wycombe would score, Raheem would score, Wycombe would score, Raheem would score. It was ridiculous. I think Wycombe ended up winning 5-4 against our one-man team. When I got back to the club, I said I’d just been watching Raheem Park Rangers. He was totally running the show.”
Such was his talent that Liverpool didn’t think twice before snapping up the 15-year-old for a fee of around €1 million from QPR.
Rise to Stardom
Sterling made his senior Liverpool debut as a 17-year-old at the time making him the second youngest debutant in the club’s history under the tutelage of Kenny Dalglish. In the next season, Liverpool was taken over by Brendan Rodgers. Sterling didn’t have the best of starts with the manager as he was caught on camera having an altercation with the manager on the club’s pre-season tour.
However, Rodgers has a reputation of giving a fair chance to the youngsters in the squad. The youngster given a good run in the team and made 36 appearances in all in Rodgers’ first season in charge before his season was cut short by an injury.
In the break that followed post that season, Sterling worked really hard on his game and physique and went from being a 5 foot 7 inch ‘schoolboy’ who could easily be pushed off the ball to a man who could hold his own against the best defenders in the world.
The 2013-14 season was the season where Sterling established himself as the best teenager in the world. He had a brilliant season as Liverpool went on a dream run and finished 2nd in the Premier League. He learnt a lot and enjoyed a huge amount of success playing behind the deadly striking duo of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
This season, Liverpool have been without both their star strikers and the onus has been on Raheem to provide that spark in attack. Although Liverpool as a unit have been pretty disappointing, Sterling has been the shining light for the Reds this season.
Sterling’s England career has been on the rise too. His performances in a Liverpool shirt haven’t gone unnoticed and Roy Hodgson awarded him by naming him in the 23-man World Cup squad. Raheem impressed at the World Cup and since then has been a vital cog in the Three Lions setup.
What sets him apart
Raheem Sterling is not your typical English wonder kid. Numerous comparisons have been made between Raheem and many other footballing greats. But what sets him apart from the other wonder kids is his understanding of the game and his determination.
Brendan has used the Englishman in a number of positions and he has looked comfortable in all of these positions. This is because even though he is very young, his tactical knowledge and understanding of the game is very strong.
In Brendan’s first season in charge, Sterling was mainly used as a winger. In 2013-14 season, when Rodgers introduced the game-changing 4-4-2 diamond formation at Liverpool, Sterling was operating at the tip of the diamond behind the 2 strikers up front.
This season Sterling has been again mainly used as a winger but in Liverpool’s recent 3-1 win against Bournemouth, Sterling was used as a false No.9 and helped himself to a brace.
He might look like a kid but this guy has nerves made of steel. Many questions were asked about his commitment and his issues in personal life early in his career. But he has sorted all that out and has become a role model for other young people in the Liverpool academy trying to break into the first team. He now places himself on “House Arrest” three days before the game to ensure that he is fully focused on the game.
Where can he improve?
Any player who plays in the final third will be expected to contribute to the team in the form of goals and assists. This is the only department in which Sterling is lacking in.
In 2012-13 season Sterling made 36 appearances for Liverpool and bagged only 2 goals. The next season, Sterling and Liverpool were in fine form and he scored 10 goals in all competitions.
This season he has scored 5 goals so far. It is obvious from these stats that he could contribute more to the team in terms of goals.
Sterling would be looking to work hard on his finishing because he needs to start scoring consistently if he is to be considered among the world’s best players.
For now, he is the world’s best teenager and will be the guy who Liverpool fans will hope can get them off their seats this season.
