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Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers: 'Raheem Sterling is only 18, he has time to develop'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that Raheem Sterling's age of 18 needs to be taken into account.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has eased pressure on winger Raheem Sterling by insisting that he is still just a youngster.

The 18-year-old burst onto the scene for the Reds last season, but has had limited first-team opportunities at Anfield during the current campaign.

The England Under-21 international has come into the side of late following the injury suffered to Daniel Sturridge, and he joined Luis Suarez in finding the back of the net in Liverpool's 5-1 win over Norwich City on Wednesday.

"Raheem is still only a very young player," Rodgers told the club's official website. "I thought his finish on Wednesday night was excellent. It probably got lost in and amongst Luis' goals and his assist.

"But we've just encouraged the front players to take more of a risk and get into the box. It was a wonderful finish off his left side. We mustn't forget that he's a boy of 18 years of age, who is developing all the time."

Sterling signed a new long-term contract at Anfield earlier this year.

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Liverpool's Luis Suarez celebrates with teammate Steven Gerrard after scoring his team's second goal against Norwich during their Premier League match on December 4, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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