10 Things Liverpool Must Do to Keep Raheem Sterling at Anfield
Over the course of two international breaks, Liverpool have had Daniel Sturridge injured and now Raheem Sterling embroiled in an unnecessary club-versus-country row—Brendan Rodgers could be forgiven for wanting the Premier League season to resume as soon as possible.
Rodgers had already gotten himself into a public disagreement with Roy Hodgson over the treatment of Sturridge last time out, leading to an injury that both the striker and his club are still recovering from.
This time around, Hodgson’s admission—that Sterling had asked to be rested—has been met with mixed reactions, from England fans condemning the player to ex-professionals questioning Hodgson’s decision to go public with a private conversation.
Amid recent rumors linking Sterling with a move to Real Madrid (per The Telegraph), the new public row will not do either the player or the club any good, while Paul Smith of The Independent has reported that Sterling is set to renew his contract at Anfield.
Here are 10 things Liverpool should do to keep their latest young star for the longer term.
Protect Him from a Club vs. Country Row
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As the pressure to succeed at club level intensifies over the course of the season and foreseeably over the next few seasons as well, Sterling will find himself in the middle of club-versus-country arguments that will only become ever more commonplace in the modern game.
Both Rodgers and Hodgson will have their reasons for accusing the other party for mismanaging Sterling, and there will always be different views on the responsibility to stay fit for your employers and the glory that comes with representing your country.
But Rodgers will know the importance of sheltering Sterling—still only 19 years of age—from the negative attention. Keeping Sterling’s focus on his football will be of utmost importance.
Manage His Exposure
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When it comes to young players and media exposure, Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to keep a young Ryan Giggs under wraps and forbid the media from conducting interviews with him until he turned 20 years old will always remain a legendary example.
With Sterling already playing a prominent role for both club and country, as well as the ubiquitous media coverage in the modern game, Rodgers won’t be able to keep as tight a lid over him, but that doesn’t mean he can’t take care to protect his young star.
Sterling has had his fair share of off-field controversy, and Rodgers’ decision to keep him out of the limelight and out of the first team then proved crucial for him to get focused once again. Perhaps revising Sterling’s media commitments could prove beneficial this time as well.
Manage His Fitness
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Besides mental fitness, physical fitness is key to keeping Sterling fresh and motivated.
And no matter if Sterling went to Hodgson out of his own accord or was suggested to do so by the Liverpool hierarchy, it’s clear that at least one party (likely more) feel that his fitness needs to be better managed.
And going forward, regardless of his participation in the England national team, his club needs to ensure that they do indeed look out for his match fitness, sharpness and physical condition.
Rotate Him Sensibly
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With Liverpool still in four competitions and Sterling more prominent than ever for the Reds, extra caution must be taken to avoid burnout so early on in his career.
Sterling’s current No. 10 position on the pitch means that he is a central figure in the Liverpool attack, and as such, much of the creative and goal-scoring burden has landed on his shoulders. To his credit, he has taken all of that in stride and made the position his own for both club and country—a testament to his unique talent.
Yet it was his versatility that first saw him tried in that position. With Liverpool’s injured stars starting to return to first-team action, a rotation policy that sees him take up other positions and interchange, or start matches on the bench, could help spread around the team’s attacking burden.
Rotate Others Sensibly
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A squad rotation system requires a whole set of players to be on board with such a policy and a coherent long-term vision, which Rodgers seems to have instilled at Anfield.
As Sterling continues to build up both his physical and mental maturity, a policy that sees the playing time of the likes of Steven Gerrard managed across the season could be instrumental in managing Sterling’s own fitness and expectations.
No doubt Sterling is a central figure in Liverpool’s fortunes, but it would help to once again stress the overall picture.
Assign Him Leadership Responsibility
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At the same time, this latest episode could be a turning point in Sterling’s career, if Rodgers decides to use it as an indication that he has truly grown into one of England’s top players and assigns him more off-field responsibility.
With more than 60 Premier League games for Liverpool under his belt, Sterling can be considered one of the more “seasoned” Reds in the team, at the ripe old age of 19, and could be assigned as a mentor for youngsters coming through the academy.
A bigger presence on the pitch and a more pronounced sense of leadership within the club could pave the way to a more exciting period of development for Sterling.
Prove Their Strength on All Fronts
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After the need for Liverpool to show Sterling that they have his professional and personal development at the top of their priorities, they also need to show that they will stay competitive at the top level.
Their hard work last season saw the Reds miss out narrowly on the Premier League title, but exhibited signs that they would be a force to be reckoned with for some years to come.
The loss of Luis Suarez has been offset with a return to the Champions League, but their problems without him have been magnified in their heavier fixture list this season. Rodgers will be keen to show his mettle at the top level.
Strengthen in January If Needed
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Looking at the current Liverpool team, it is obvious that there are glaring issues that Rodgers needs to solve if they are to extend their stay in the Champions League next season, not least in defence.
Daniel Sturridge’s imminent return from injury will be a much-needed boost up front and will hopefully spur Mario Balotelli into action, while Emre Can and Joe Allen’s return should shore up the midfield and give their fellow midfielders more room to breathe, especially over the hectic Christmas period.
A strong summer of spending should be continued in the January transfer window if Rodgers and his scouting team identify potential signings that can improve the team’s fortunes.
Look at the Long Term
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Having signed many promising youngsters, as well as continuing to bring hot prospects through the academy to the first team, Liverpool have done well to stick with a sustainable long-term vision during the reign of John W. Henry and Fenway Sports Group.
Divock Origi’s signing—paying £10 million a year in advance to secure the services of a high-potential young striker, who will finally join Liverpool after a year as Lille and Belgium’s first-choice striker—suggests that this model won’t be going away anytime soon.
It is the kind of strategy that will continue to attract, and hopefully secure, exciting young talents to Anfield.
Tie Him Down to a New Contract
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Then, of course, there is the most practical way to show Sterling that he is central to Liverpool’s short, medium and long-term fortunes: Presenting him with a new contract as just reward for his massive improvement.
Financially, it is unlikely that Liverpool will trump the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea, both of whom he’s been linked to (via the Express), but the Reds will hope that what they offer will be attractive enough as a whole to convince him that Anfield is the best place for him to continue developing.
Committing to a future at Anfield would be a way for Sterling to repay what the club and Rodgers have done for him as a player as well.
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