MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 04:58:05| >> :120:29049:29049:

Brendan Rodgers backs Raheem Sterling to get more goals

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes that Raheem Sterling has the attributes to become a prolific centre-forward in the Premier League.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hinted that Raheem Sterling could be a long-term option in the central striking role, if he continues to blossom in the position.

The 20-year-old initially broke into the Liverpool first team as a winger, but has been deployed as the main striker in recent weeks due to injuries to Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli.

He maintained his place in the side against Burnley on Boxing Day despite Balotelli being available, and Rodgers believes that his winner in that match shows that Sterling has the composure to become more prolific in front of goal.

"I think there are players that are natural-born goalscorers and they live to score goals, they want to score a goal," Rodgers told reporters. "Some are not so worried about what they do in the build-up, not concerned about how hard they work, but they want to score a goal. They have that ability to get a goal.

"Then you get other players, the top-class players who work very hard, who have that ability to score a lot of goals and create goals and that's something that develops with confidence over your career. I think we see him like that and I think his numbers over his career will keep improving and improving.

"For me I'm very happy with his performance. He's gone into that role, he's offered us a real threat, his pace in every game is phenomenal but he's got that bit of composure at the end. He's going to miss some chances of course but you've seen at Burnley the one opportunity he had he took it."

Sterling has scored six goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season.

ID:195807: cacheID:195807:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2806:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Fabio Borini of Liverpool is tackled by Angel Rangel of Swansea during the Capital One Cup Fourth Round match on October 28, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Liverpool vs. Swansea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!