Raheem Sterling Shows Why He Is a Manchester City Star in the Making

The weight of expectation placed on Raheem Sterling since his emergence at Liverpool can’t have been easy for the 20-year-old to deal with. Now at Manchester City after a summer move that could end up costing the Blues £49 million, Sterling’s form at Anfield was so impressive he was immediately touted as a future star of European football.

After the departure of Luis Suarez, Sterling was relied upon to be Liverpool’s main match-winner, the man expected to provide the magic moments that would seal three points. Very often, he delivered. He was superb for Liverpool, and few players his age can claim to have consistently reached the level he did for the Reds.

His move to City was seen by some on Merseyside as a betrayal, another example of a young player chasing money and displaying a lack of loyalty. Very few considered it may actually have been a decision based on improving his game and increasing his chances of winning silverware. The negativity that surrounded his transfer—the biggest moment of his career to date—was unfair and misguided.

His pace has improved City, and he has brought balance to their forward line. His finishing has sometimes been lacking—the gilt-edged chance he missed against Juventus in the Champions League was particularly costly—and his first-half display against Newcastle United was disappointing and ineffective. His confidence had perhaps suffered, and Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, decided to substitute him during the break.

His time at City had been steady but not spectacular.

LINDSEY PARNABY/Getty Images

That was until Saturday’s game with Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, where, playing centrally in behind Wilfried Bony, he scored his first senior hat-trick. And it wasn’t just his goals that impressed. His movement off the ball was superb, and his understanding with Bony was encouraging. Eddie Howe’s side simply couldn’t contain him.

He’s often criticised for lacking composure, but he showed plenty of it against Bournemouth, particularly when dispatching his second. He put three Cherries defenders on the floor as weaved his way through their back line, before slotting home with the minimum of fuss.

His three goals meant City had the game won before half-time. With a crucial Champions League group game against Sevilla at the Etihad on Wednesday evening, this was perfect preparation. City moved down the gears for the second half, coasting through until the final whistle, safe in the knowledge their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League was intact.

“I think it was very important for Raheem to score in this game three goals,” Pellegrini told reporters afterward. “It is important for him to improve his finish. I think he did that today.

“He is a very young player, and I’m sure he will continue improving in the future. I don’t think that Raheem is a striker like Kun [Aguero] or like Bony. He is an offensive player who must improve his finishing, and I think this year, as I said when he arrived here, he must improve.

“He is improving, and I’m sure that this season he will score more goals than the other seasons that he played for Liverpool.”

Pellegrini also said Sterling was unaffected by half-time withdrawal against Newcastle. “No, he didn’t lose confidence because I spoke with him immediately after that game.

“He didn’t play well, and all the players can have a bad day, but I think it was important for him this game and for the team to change his position.

“I think that near Bony he can create more space because Bony supports very well the ball. We did that change, we put Kevin [De Buyne] in his position that he did very well [in] also [in] the second [half] against Newcastle, so I think that’s for good and allowed him to score more goals.”

City haven’t just bought him to have impact this season: He’s a long-term signing they hope will be central to success for years to come.

He has areas of weakness in his game, and Pellegrini and his technical staff will be working hard to help him improve, but people would do well to remember he is just 20 years of age. He's a wonderful talent who just needs time to flourish. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.