Sterling performances by Kop Kid Raheem

The start of this season has been atrocious for Liverpool but the rise of Raheem Sterling has been the one good thing that has come from the first few games of the season. His turn of pace, dribbling and ability to get past defenders are second to none.

The speedy winger began his youth career at West Ham and then moved on to Queens Park Rangers. Then, after seven years, Liverpool noticed his ability and potential and signed him in 2010. The most memorable moment of his Liverpool youth career was on 14 February 2011, when Sterling scored five goals for Liverpool’s youth team in a 9–0 win over Southend United in the FA Youth Cup. He made his first senior appearance for Liverpool as a substitute against Wigan Athletic becoming the second youngest player to play for the club at the age of 17 years and 107 days. The 2012-13 pre-season is when he really made his name by shining in every game and scoring against Bayern Leverkusen at Anfield.

Sterling confidence and ability has also given him the chance to train with the England squad and a place on the bench in the recent game against Ukraine was the reward for his hard work. It also showed how highly he was rated by not only Rodgers but also by the England manager Roy Hodgson.

The faith Brendan Rodgers has shown in the 17 year old is wonderful because it has given Liverpool’s other youth prospects such as Samid Yesil, Adam Morgan, Suso, Jack Robinson and many more the hope they too can break into the first team at Anfield. In my opinion, the Europa League is where they will get the first chance to show their abilities to Brendan Rodgers and if they succeed, they could be as astonished as most Liverpool fans and be where Raheem Sterling currently is, in the starting XI for Liverpool FC.

At this time, the only thing Brendan Rodgers can do is to continue nurturing Sterling the way he has and one day every football fan in the world will know of Liverpool’s “Raheem Sterling”.