Of managing expectations, the loss of Luis Suarez and the burden on Raheem Sterling at Liverpool

Suarez had a huge role in how well both Sturridge and Sterling played last season

One particular aspect that will be of great interest as the season progresses is how Rodgers assimilates Mario Balotelli into the first-team (if at all) along with Daniel Sturridge and youngling Raheem Sterling. Last year, Rodgers had at his disposal one of the most fluid frontlines in the league with the excellent Phillipe Coutinho behind. It was a frontline that was full of runners and players who liked swapping the role of scorer and provider regularly, especially Suarez, who in the second striker’s role amplified Sturridge.

Amongst those three, Sterling and Suarez were most of the time never hesitant to pass, while Sturridge every so often would pull the trigger unnecessarily instead of moving the ball on. It didn’t affect them too badly because two of the front three were playing to plan and plus Sturridge played the furthest up field, so he could be allowed the indiscretions.

Now with Balotelli, that makes two people not always looking to pass and that’s a worry. Also, the Italian isn’t the most hard-working forward around and needs good service; a trait that’s come through while playing for his national side and City formerly. This puts the impetus on Sterling who suddenly is the next big thing for England (lost count of how many such ‘things’ have come and gone in the last decade) and supposedly THE man at Liverpool too. I think we’re conveniently forgetting that he is just 19 years old; the guy is a serious candidate for a quick burnout at this rate.

Managing Raheem Sterling

There are increased demands now on Sterling for both England and Liverpool

And that’s the final part of what Rodgers is up against this season. Sterling may be the golden boy of Liverpool and England right now, but many such promising youngsters in the land of hype, England, have tapered spectacularly after having won selection for the Three Lions. He needs to abstain from putting all the pressure of chance creation on Sterling if things get rough and needs to stick with his philosophy. He also needs to manage the youngster’s minutes with his side likely to be involved in European competition right through to ensure that fitness concerns don’t overreach and cause a downturn in his performances on the field.

The other task he has is to keep Sterling grounded; such sudden elevation can sometimes get in the way of good young players making it great. He is a fantastic player and it is disheartening to see when players of his ilk don’t come through on their enormous potential.

Burnout and overconfidence apart, other teams will soon start sniffing around if he continues to grow at his current rate (There are rumours already about Real Madrid’s interest, no surprise!). Warding off their advances and keeping his charge focused on the here and now is going to be integral.

That’s the combination of issues that Rodgers has on his hands at the moment as he looks to right the course of the Liverpudian ship that has hit one too many icebergs already this early in the season. He is one of the best young managers around and history suggests that he will eventually get it right, but even if he does he may not be able to match that second-place finish. That’s the reality that we should be ready to contend with.

However, if he does get it right, what he will be doing is setting the club up for a more consistent run at the top of the table and a scenario where it would be tough to keep them out of the title talk at the beginning of every season. A scenario where Liverpool would be better prepped to manage expectations.