• Premier League

Rodgers calls for Sterling protection

ESPN staff
September 12, 2014
Balotelli shirt sales bring £50,000 to Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool and England need to protect Raheem Sterling from the growing expectations being placed on him.

Sterling, 19 has picked up where he left off last season with some impressive displays for Liverpool, scoring in the 3-0 win at Tottenham.

After shining in England's opening World Cup defeat to Italy, Sterling further enhanced his burgeoning international reputation by playing a key role in England's 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win against Switzerland on Monday.

"I think he needs protection," said Rodgers. "I have seen it over the years.

Rodgers praises Lambert's 'supporting role'

  • Brendan Rodgers has hailed the impact made by Rickie Lambert at Liverpool despite having yet to hand him a start.
  • Lambert joined the club in a £4 million deal from Southampton in the summer but has been restricted to two substitute appearances this season.
  • "Rickie has been very good since he came in," Rodgers said.
  • "He has mostly had an impact from the bench and you see even with England the other night when he came on he showed good ability to play a great weighted pass for Danny Welbeck to score.
  • "He is working very well and if he doesn't get a start he will certainly start against Middlesbrough in the [League] Cup so his game time will come - but at the moment he is playing a great supporting role from the bench."

"He is a wonderful talent, he is doing great for Liverpool but there are still a lot of things he needs to learn and he knows that and is a mature boy for his age.

"He has grown into a wonderful young man and his consistency and performances are there and the period he has been in the team has been exceptional.

"I expect him to keep progressing but in terms of where he is at I think we need to be careful.

Rodgers has claimed that an over-reliance on Sterling, in particular with England, could be detrimental towards his development.

"You see so many players where there is a reliance on them - especially with England who, for whatever reason, tend to look for one player to put up on a pedestal and very quickly knock him down," added Rodgers.

"Raheem will make mistakes, he will have bad games but he will also have outstanding games and it is keeping the calmness with him because he still has a way to go.

"He is certainly performing at a real high and consistent level.

"England know as well as anyone they need a team so they don't have to focus just on Raheem."

Raheem Sterling has become a key player for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool © Getty Images
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