Brendan Rodgers has stated that even if Sterling doesn’t play in any of Liverpool’s remaining league matches his season can be considered a success despite his recent dip in form which is due to fatigue according to Rodgers.
Sterling has had a breakthrough season with Liverpool with him being handed his first league start against Manchester City at Anfield in August. In total he has made 35 appearances for Liverpool this season scoring two goals and getting three assists.
Sterling has seen his playing time reduced though since the end of December due to a drop in his performances which Rodgers has attributed to mental and physical fatigue as the demands of top flight football in the first half of the season seem to have affected the youngster.
Rodgers had plenty of praise for the youngster in his pre Wigan match press conference though as he hailed the impact that Sterling has made at such a young age and talked about how Sterling will be given a rest and have the pressure taken off him.
Rodgers said: "He's had a brilliant season. I've said it before and I'll repeat it again - if he never kicked a ball for the rest of the season, he's had an outstanding season.”
"I don't know another 17-year-old in European football who has made the impact he's made in one of the five biggest leagues in the world. This is a kid who has huge talent.”
"This is a really tough league for an experienced player - physically and mentally - and even experienced players, at times, will drop off their performance level because it's natural.”
"So it's no surprise for a young kid of 17, now 18, if that happens to him. I've just got to make sure I protect him. It's getting to the period where he'll need a wee rest - mentally as much as physically - that's what we'll look to do, and take him out of the spotlight a bit.”
Thank you for reading. YNWA.
