Raheem Sterling has become a key player for Liverpool and England.Raheem Sterling has become a key player for Liverpool and England.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard recently announced that this will be his last season at Anfield as he intends to spend the last few years of his career in Major League Soccer in the US.

The Reds fans love Gerrard but in the future, they will have to look at other players for inspiration and young starlet Raheem Sterling can fill the void left by the captain if he continues to dedicate himself to the game.

Manager Brendan Rodgers, who has become something of a fatherly figure to Sterling, believes the time has come for the youngster to have a long chat with his agent and commit his future to Liverpool.

“Raheem needs to have a clear mind in everything he does − he needs to stabilise his life,” the Liverpool manager explained.

“We mustn’t forget he is still young, but he has to understand the remarkable opportunity he has at one of the biggest clubs in the world and focus everything on his career.”

Sterling burst on to the scene in spring 2012 when he played his first league match for Liverpool, then managed by Rafael Benitez.

He proved such a sensation that he earned an immediate call-up to the full England squad.

Born on December 8, 1994, Sterling began his career at Queens Park Rangers before signing for Liverpool in 2010. He represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-21 levels before being capped by the senior national side in autumn 2012.

He was a regular for England at the 2014 World Cup.

Sterling was signed by Liverpool in February 2010 by Benitez for an initial fee of £600,000.

He made his first appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Moen-chengladbach in Germany on August 1, 2010.

On March 24, 2012 Sterling made his senior Liverpool debut as a substitute in a league match against Wigan Athletic, aged 17 years and 107 days, becoming the second-youngest player ever to play for the club.

In his maiden season, he earned his first Liverpool start in a Europa League qualifying match away to Hearts in a 1-0 win.

Sterling was handed his first start in the Premier League three days later in a 2-2 draw at Anfield against Manchester City.

First senior goal

On October 20, Sterling scored his first senior competitive goal in the Premiership for Liverpool in a 1-0 home win over Reading.

As a result, he became the second-youngest player ever to score in a competitive fixture for Liverpool, behind Michael Owen.

On April 18, 2014, Sterling was one of six players shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

In December the Liverpool forward won the prestigious European Golden Boy accolade, awarded each year to the young player considered to have performed to the highest level.

On September 16, 2014 Sterling made his Champions League debut in a 2-1 victory over Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad at Anfield. He made his 100th appearance for Liverpool in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.

Sterling’s England baptism came on November 14, 2012 when he starred in a friendly away to Sweden.

So far, he has played 13 times for the national team.

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