Liverpool's Raheem Sterling has the world at his feet

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling celebrates his goal against Tottenham Hotspur.

On Sunday, Raheem Sterling opened the scoring against Tottenham who hadn't conceded a single goal this season. This was the winger’s second goal in three matches in a year that is extremely crucial for the development of the 19-year-old. He is expected to step it up for Liverpool after the loss of Luis Suarez and form a new ‘SAS’ strike force with Daniel Sturridge.

Contrary to popular opinion, Sterling isn’t entirely a Liverpool academy product. Under Rafa Benitez, he was bought from Queens Park Rangers in 2010 for an initial fee of £600,000. Sterling was merely a 15-year-old at that time, but scouts had seen his talent. His pace and dribbling ability made him an ideal winger. As Sterling joined Liverpool he started playing for the youth team and regularly scored goals.

On March 24, 2012 he became the second youngest debutant for Liverpool as he came off the bench to make an appearance against Wigan. Sterling continued his progress with the England and Liverpool youth teams and made a handful of substitute appearances for Liverpool and also represented England at every level.

A career with ups and downs at Liverpool

The Englishman’s major breakthrough came under Brendan Rodgers’ first season. He was given his first start in a crucial encounter at the Etihad stadium against Manchester City. Rodgers took a liking to Raheem’s raw pace and ability to dribble. In the same season, he scored his first ever competitive goal against Reading and became the second youngest goal scorer for Liverpool. While Sterling was putting in impressive performances, there were rumours of other clubs trying to capture the talented teenager. Instead, Sterling opted to sign a contract extension and stay with Liverpool.

He has faced his share of problems while playing for Liverpool. In the 2012 pre-season tour, a recorded video shows Brendan Rogers accusing Sterling of lacking hard work and discipline. Though Sterling pleaded his innocence, Rogers turned a dead ear to him. He threatened Sterling by saying that he would be sent back on the first plane out.

Sterling also had off field problems in 2013. He was accused of assaulting his ex girlfriend. Eventually he was found not guilty of the charge but that affected his on-field presence for Liverpool. He did not regularly feature for Liverpool. Out of the spotlight, Sterling used the time out to improve his overall work rate and game sense. It is only with the injury to Daniel Sturridge that Raheem Sterling paved his way into the playing 11 and he has not looked back since.

Return to form and the starting line up

After December 2013 till the end of the season Sterling scored 9 goals in the Premier League with a shot accuracy of 61%, which is a good return for an attacking midfielder. What was most impressive about Sterling’s performances was the evidence of overall progress. Rodgers deserves credit for making him play in the number 10 role as this allowed

Sterling to develop a greater understanding of the game. Over the last season, Sterling has also improved his finishing. In a crucial encounter against Manchester City, he calmly slotted the ball past Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany to put Liverpool 1-0 up.

He has had his tough moments in his career, be it from Rodgers or the cases in court. But it finally seems like Sterling is putting his act together. On the basis of his impressive end to the last season, he was selected for the England squad and was probably the only player in England's team who put in impressive performances at the 2014 World Cup.

He is known for his high levels of fitness and impressive work rate. Along with that, his speed and natural ability to go past players is fantastic. Sterling now looks set for another impressive season under Brendan Rodgers, and if early season form is an evidence of things to come, he is surely ready to step it up and form another feared ‘SAS’ strike force.