RAHEEM STERLING: WORLD CLASS OR OVER-RATED?

20 YEAR OLD LIVERPOOL FORWARD, RAHEEM STERLING. IS HE A WORLD CLASS PLAYER?

Raheem Sterling is the name on most people's lips. Why? At the age of 20, is this raw talent fit enough to be tagged as a world class player? Or is he just another over-rated youngster?

Yes he did score a beautiful goal in last nights 2-0 victory over Newcastle, but he missed a couple of sitters as well. This guy posses so much pace he's a nightmare for defenders, and Ryan Taylor was the victim of that ability last night. Eleven goals, eight assists in all competitions for RS this season and fans, media are going ballistic about this young chap. The stats aren't too bad for such a young man.

There is way too much hype about him at the moment, yes he is Liverpool's top scorer but he just doesn't impress me. He's contract talks have stalled, does he want higher wages than he's currently been offered or he feels it's time to move to a big club? Rumor has it Wenger has been tracking him, why? Wenger why? Arsenal surely don't need him, The Ox and Walcott are by far more finished products than Sterling is at the moment. So Wenger should just look away.

Raheem should stay put at Anfield for another season or two before he makes the jump. The biggest mistake he'd make is moving in the summer. He is still so raw and needs time to develop himself. For example, he moves to Real Madrid in the summer, sorry to say he'll only make the bench. CR7, Bale and James Rodriguez occupy the positions Sterling operates, and honestly, those are world class players which Sterling isn't yet.

Is he better than Philipe Coutinho? Absolutely not! Coutinho already looks a complete player than Sterling and maybe the hype should be around the Brazilian instead. You may think I'm being a bit too harsh on the Englishman, no I'm not. Behind that raw player there's talent, we all see that when he's at his very best but he isn't there just yet. I'm sure a lot of Liverpool fans will disagree with me, but hey, the truth is always bitter.

"Raheem Sterling is just as good as Hazard and Sanchez." Those were the words of a friend who is a die hard Reds fan. Take a back seat son, because clearly you don't know what you are talking about. Hazard and Sanchez are probably the two best players in the Premier League and are world class. Sterling would be lucky just to sneak into the top 20 best players in the Premier League. Considering all the teams above Liverpool in the table have about five or six players better than Sterling. Then there also players such as Harry Kane who would definitely be ahead of him.

In two or three seasons, Raheem most likely will be a top player, but for now, all the hype must stop. He isn't there yet! Liverpool fans want someone to talk about, Philipe Coutinho is your man of the moment.

Feel free to have your say on the comment box below. Do you agree with me or not?

EPL Monday Week 32; LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE

LIVERPOOL LOOKING TO CLOSE IN ON MANCHESTER CITY

The Reds tackle Newcastle at Anfield tonight knowing a win takes them within four points of City and renewed hope for Champions League football next season. These are two sides licking their wounds at the moment, Liverpool having lost to both United and Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways. For Newcastle, it's one win in the last five games, and defeat in the derby to Sunderland left a deep scar to fans and players alike of Newcastle United.

Newcastle edged out the reverse fixture back in November 1-0 and the black and white army will be hoping for a repeat result tonight. Newcastle now just sit nine points adrift of safety with seven matches left to play after four losses on the bounce.

The Reds head into this game on bad form, but will be hungry than ever due to City's slip up once again on Sunday. Liverpool fans will be knowing only three points will revitalize their chances of finishing fourth at most, as second or third spot look to be out of their reach this season.

Liverpool will be without French international Mamadou Sakho who limped off against Blackburn in the FA cup quarter final replay. Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard serve their final match of their three games suspension and Adam Lallana has a groin problem. Rodgers will be delighted to welcome back Jordan Ibe to the line up as well as Emre Can who returns from suspension. Daniel Sturridge should be fit after complaining of muscle tightness while Mario Balotelli may well have recovered from illness.

Newcastle captain Fabriccio Coloccini and stiker Papiss Cisse are suspended while Rolando Aarons and Siem De Jong are back in training but will not make if for this fixture. Long term absentees Cheick Tiote and Steven Taylor are still out.


Probable Line ups;

Liverpool (3-4-2-1)
Mignolet; Can, Lovren, Toure; Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Coutinho, Sterling; Sturridge.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1)
Krul; Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Jonas; Colback, Sissokho; Gouffran, Cabella, Ameobi; Perez.


Key Players

Philipe Coutinho - With six goals in all competitions, the little Brazilian will be the man to watch. He netted the winner vs Blackburn that sent Liverpool to Wembley for a FA cup semi-final clash vs Aston Villa.

Moussa Sissokho - Tall, energetic, powerful, pacey and a wonderful striker of the ball. This guy has it all. One of the best attacking midfielders when running at the defense, probably on Yaya Toure betters him. If he's on his game, Henderson and Allen will have a long night. He is the key to Newcastle getting anything out of this.

Prediction; Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle

Newcastle just look out of sorts at the moment and with nothing really to play for, while Liverpool know only victory will have them dreaming of Champions League football again.

FA CUP QUARTER FINAL REPLAY: BLACKBURN VS LIVERPOOL PREVIEW

BOWYER LOOKING TO SLAY THIRD PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM

 

Gary Bowyer's Blackburn side will be looking for victory against Premier League opponents Liverpool when the two sides clash at Ewood Park tonight. Swansea and Stoke have already fallen victim to Rovers in the FA cup this season. 

The Championship club have already held the Reds at Anfield and will be hoping to do one better in the clash tonight. Rovers were organized and made it difficult for Liverpool at Anfield, we'd expect them to be more attack minded tonight playing in front of their home crowd.

Defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal in recent weeks have left Rodgers side chances of qualifying for Europe in tatters. Liverpool were riding high and undefeated just a couple of weeks ago, and most people including me tipped them to finish in the top 4. Two must win games in three weeks only separated by the international break, and guess what.....they capitulated when it matters most. Against Arsenal they were so horrendous you would think they were playing with their eyes closed. 

A repeat of performance like that and Rovers will surely be slaying their third Premier League opponents. Injury and suspension list just keeps adding up, Emre Can suspended after a silly tackle on Welbeck. Skrtel, and Gerrard still serving suspension and Mario Balotelli will have a late fitness test on his knee.

Blackurn have a number of injury concerns as well, Rudy Gestede faces a late fitness test, Craig Conway, Grant Hanley, Josh King and David Dunn will all miss the tie and on loan Blackburn player Jay Spearing is cup-tied.

Probable line ups;

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2);

Steele; Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon, Olsson; Cairney, Evans, Williamson, Marshall; Rhodes, Gestede.

Liverpool (3-4-2-1)

Mignolet; Lovren, Toure, Sakho; Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Sterling, Coutinho; Sturridge


Prediction; Blackburn 1-2 Liverpool

Something tells me otherwise about my prediction, there's this part of me that has a strong feeling that Blackburn will progress in this tie, then again I look at the Liverpool front three and I'm like no chance in hell for Rovers if that Liverpool attack is on it's game. Blackburn will definitely cause Liverpool problems if Rodgers goes with that back three that look so susceptible. But then again he has no choice.

Watch Rodgers pre-match conference.

 

Engagement At The Emirates

This is just not a battle for pride, but a battle for the top 4. Liverpool's defeat to United has left them with a lot of work to do if they are to qualify for the Champions League. It's a must win for the Reds or they can kiss their Mersyside bottoms and CL football next season bye bye. For the Gunners, it's more of making a statement, a statement of "we are still in it" to the two teams above, a win for them and City will be licking their tails in the table, temporarily though who have a daunting task away at Pardew's men, Crystal Palace.

Liverpool will not have done themselves any good against United, two players suspended, another couple injured and and anxious wait as they asses Sterling's minor problem. Arsenal have no njury concerns for once, Wilshere is back, will he make the bench? I doubt.

Probable Line-ups;

ARSENAL
4-2-3-1
Ospina: Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal: Coquelin, Cazorla: Welbeck, Ozil, Alexis: Giroud.

LIVERPOOL
3-4-3
Mignolet: Can, Lovren, Sakho: Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno: Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli.

Key Players
Arsenal
-Alexis Sanchez; Pacey, Trickery and Flair are his greatest traits. Markovic will have to be focused and discipline, tracking back at all cost.
-Santi Cazorls; Been Arsenal's best player this calendar year, Allen and Henderson will have to find a way to stop him playing.
-Olivier Giroud; Arguably the most clinical striker at the moment alongside Harry Kane. He'll fancy his chances against Dejan Lovren.

Liverpool
-Philipe Coutinho; Pleasing to the eye of all football lovers no matter the club you support. He has what it takes to win the game for the Mersysiders though he'll be hoping for a much better outing than his last visit to the Emirates not too long ago with Brazil.
-Raheem Sterling; Just like Coutinho, he is pleasing to watch, his pace can be a bug to any defense in world football.
-Jordan Henderson; Henderson is growing into that Gerard role quite well, he even has a couple of Gerard esque shots to go along with. If he marshal's the midfield well, Liverpool may have a chance.

Prediction; Arsenal 3 -1 Liverpool

I just don't see Liverpool getting a result with the squad they have available for the visit to the Emirates. Remember Liverpool have won once there! Too many injuries and suspensions have put them miserably down on squad depth. I feel Arsenal just have too much going forward for the likes of Sakho and Lovren to handle.


So it's WENGER vs RODGERS part 2!!!