30 Oct 2012

Houllier & Gerrard insist: 'Outstanding' LFC star must improve in one area. Agree?

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Former Reds boss Gerard Houllier believe that Raheem Sterling needs to improve one particular aspect of his game.

In an interview with the official LFC site, Houllier - who four major trophies during his time at Anfield - praised Brendan Rodgers for playing football 'the right way', expressed his happiness at the rise of Suso, Wisdom and Allen, but he argued that Sterling needs to improve the quality of his play in the final third of the field. Houllier observed:

"Sterling could be a major player for the club in the future.

"But at the moment he just needs to be a little more composed, particularly in the final move of his game"


Steven Gerrard also agree that Sterling needs to improve his composure up front, but the Reds skipper is convinced that he'll develop into one of the Premier League's top players:

"I thought Sterling was fantastic. At 17 years of age, playing away in a derby, in a cauldron and an atmosphere like that, he was outstanding.

"There was the chance early in the second half when he was through on goal, when he matures a little bit and gets that bit of composure into his game that will come".


Sterling is by no means the finished article yet, but I can see Houllier's point. The youngster's lack of composure in the final third was evident against Everton on Sunday, but the hothouse Derby atmosphere probably had a lot to do with that.

The most persuasive evidence that Sterling needs to be more composed in the final third comes from his assists record, or lack of one. The youngster has 1 assists in 18 games for the Reds, and this is something that definitely needs to improve as the season wears on.

Yes, he's only 17, but if Sterling is going to be in the team every week then he needs to justify his place with end product, and his primary job is to create goals for others.

Jaimie Kanwar


13 comments:

  1. JAIMIE my memory could be playing tricks on me but didn't STERLING set up STEVEN GERRARD for a goal against NORWICH?

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  2. You're right, Beast. Well remembered.

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  3. He will develop in time. I was, however, very annoyed that he did not score against Everton when he had that chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. I can read people when I commented it said no assists!

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  5. http://www.debatabledecisions.com/previous-seasons (last season)
    http://www.debatabledecisions.com/english-premier-league-tables (current season)
    very interesting

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  6. Yes, I updated the article based on Beast's observation.

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  7. Didn't Sterling also provide the assist for Suarez away at Sunderland? Plus his goal v. Reading. Let us remember he is just a kid, though a far better addition to our team than Downing was last year in the same position.

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  8. Sterling as well as Jonjo have one major flaw in their game. They are unable to see a team mate in a better scoring position. That has caused Liverpool goals and points. Even against Everton both players had Suarez screaming or waving for the final pass and it would have been game over. Both were naive and greedy and wasted the opportunities to score. The champion Liverpool teams of the past had players who pride themselves creating goal chances for their team mates. Ask Keegan, Toshack, Rush and Kenny all of whom created and scored goals for fun. I also know that if a players had scored two goals, their team mates will be trying to put a ball on a plate for the player to score the hatrick and take back the match ball. I didn't see this with Sterling's and Jonjo's play against Everton. This element of one for all and all for one is missing from the current Liverpool team. No doubt Sterling has potential to be a great player one day, but he has to learn to be a team player to be successful. Whenever I have watched the youth teams play, Sterling stands out as a greedy individualistic player, who appears to play for himself and not the team. Brendan Rodgers has to train him as educating the boy is not working. Same for Jonjo the lessons must be learn and such mistakes should not be repeated. Alex Red nose would have thrown a boot or tea cup at a young player for not passing to another player better positioned to score.

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  9. "Alex Red nose would have thrown a boot or tea cup at a young player for not passing to another player better positioned to score."

    That may be true but personally I'd rather Rodgers educate our young players not abuse them!

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  10. "Alex Red nose would have thrown a boot or tea cup at a young player for not passing to another player better positioned to score."

    That may be true but personally I'd rather Rodgers educate our young players not abuse them!

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  11. Definitely has areas to improve but he is a puppy, a talented one and hopefully he will improve on those weaknesses over time. Just hope people are patient when he has a dip in form as he will probably have one sometime soon as he is a young player and young players suffer from dips in form as well as off-games.

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  12. Need to realise that Raheem isn't going to get a lot of assists when 9 times out of 10 the likes of Suarez is going to miss the target

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  13. I totally agree, Assaidi seems like the type of player that will not be bothered if he gave an opportunity for another player to score. However its a fickle thing seeing that if you see an opportunity and your confident enough to score, you should take it.

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