Liverpool youth team prodigy Raheem Sterling could become the club’s youngest first-team player against Sparta Prague in the Europa League today.

The forward, 16, is a surprise inclusion in the squad which flew out to the Czech Republic ahead of the last-32, first-leg tie.

Sterling, who scored five goals in Monday’s 9-0 FA Youth Cup demolition of Southend, has been re­warded for his pro­gress at the club’s Kirkby academy.

Should he feature against Sparta aged just 16 years and 71 days he will break by some margin the previous record set by fellow U-18 team-mate Jack Robinson who made his Premier League debut against Hull last May aged 16 years and 250 days.

Sterling is still at school, attending Rainhill High in Prescot, but was able to travel to Prague as it is currently the half-term holidays.

The England youth international joined Liverpool’s academy last February after a £500,000 move from QPR. He came off the bench in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Moenchengladbach and last month was officially given a first-team squad number.

Sterling is one of a number of youngsters in the squad, with John Flanagan, Conor Coady, Robinson and Tom Ince all included.

Liverpool’s £35 million club record-signing Andy Carroll has also travelled but as he is still recovering from a thigh problem it is for training purposes only.

Steven Gerrard was not named in the squad as he continues to recover from a groin injury. Centre-back Daniel Agger was also left behind with a similar problem.

Last 32

Playing today
Rubin Kazan vs Twente - 13.00
Metalist vs B. Leverkusen - 17.00
Napoli vs Villarreal - 19.00
Anderlecht vs Ajax - 19.00
Lech Poznan vs Braga - 19.00
Besiktas vs Dynamo Kiev - 19.00
Benfica vs Stuttgart - 19.00
BATE Borisov vs Paris SG - 19.00
Rangers vs Sporting - 21.05
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool - 21.05
Basel vs Spartak Moscow - 21.05
Young Boys vs Zenit SP - 21.05
PAOK vs CSKA Moscow - 21.05
Sevilla vs Porto - 21.05
Lille vs PSV Eindhoven - 21.05

Second legs – February 22-24.

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