Raheem Sterling, the Liverpool forward, has had several ups and downs under Brendan Rodgers, but the manager’s tough line with the teenager seems to be paying dividends.
Rodgers said he has given the 19 year old “a bit of stick” in the past 18 months, but the youngster has responded well and seems to have rediscovered the form that took the Premier League by storm at the start of last season.
In Rodgers’ first preseason in charge, one of the few memorable moments was the manager’s swift rebuke of the youngster who appeared to question his authority.
That did not stop the manager giving Sterling a long run in the side, which led to his senior England debut, only for injury and a dip in form to see him not feature at all in April and May.
Sterling had a number of off-field issues to deal with in 2013, including being found not guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend, and he found first-team chances were limited at the start of this campaign.
But an injury to striker Daniel Sturridge opened the door again, and the teenager has started the past nine matches, scoring three times.
More importantly, he has showed a resurgence in his overall play and is likely to start again today away at Stoke City. “He’s been outstanding, brilliant, and has played really well in some big games,” Rodgers said.
“In other games he was very prominent. I think you’ve seen what he can give to the team when he’s really focused.
“He’s in a good moment now. He’s happy and really focused on his football and he’s consistently producing.
“I’ve been really pleased for him because he’s a good kid. He’s taken a bit of stick from me since I’ve come in here, but it’s always been in the best interests of him and the club.”
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