Raheem Sterling will always be important to Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers

Raheem Sterling (L)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised Raheem Sterling, stating that the young winger will be an important player for the Reds over the course of the season. Sterling has experienced a tough time since his 2012 breakthrough into the side. Following an explosive start to last season he found himself out of the team, but has started the last three games for the Anfield side as Rodgers insists that he has a part to play. Rodgers also continued his interview by talking about the role of the club’s fans in the impressive home form that has seen them pick up 21 points from their 8 home fixtures so far this season.

The latest of those victories came against West Ham on Saturday – a game in which Rodgers felt Sterling should have scored:

“He’ll be disappointed, he should have scored; he had a couple of very good chances.”

“But confidence is returning for him. He’s making some great runs beyond, it’s just if he can get that bit of composure. He slipped a couple of times when he was in good positions.”

“He’s a terrific young player to have. He will always be important for us this season; he didn’t play so much in the opening months, but you can see that he’s a real threat when he’s at the top of his game.”

Liverpool have won seven of their eight home games this season, with the only blemish a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in September, and Rodgers believes that the attacking threat of his side at Anfield is helped by the side’s supporters.

“It has just been relentless in our mentality to go and score goals”, he said. “It’s a very professional attitude that the team is playing with.”

“The hunger to win these games is important; these are the games where you’ve really got to make your home form count.”

“Hopefully now teams come here and know they are in for a very difficult game, rather than being encouraged to come here and think it can be a nice afternoon.”

“That’s a great credit to the players and great for the supporters, because they are creating an environment for the team to play and pass and move.”

“When they are behind us, it’s like having that extra man on the field.”