Great Expectations – Raheem Sterling

After breaking into the Liverpool first-team under Brendan Rodgers in 2012/13, hopes were high that Raheem Sterling would announce himself as a major contender for our Fantasy teams last season. The youngster’s fortunes suffered at the start of the campaign, though, and while Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge tore opposition back lines apart, Sterling fell down the pecking order – over the first 12 Gameweeks, he mustered just one start and six second-half sub appearances for the Merseysiders.

A tactical tweak from Rodgers brought the teenager back into the first-team frame. Sterling subsequently started 23 of the remaining 26 league outings and was drafted off the bench in the other three fixtures, underlining just how crucial he became as the Anfield outfit finished second behind champions Manchester City after scoring 101 goals.

Key Factors

• This time around, there seems no doubt Sterling will have a significant part to play. With Suarez departing for Barcelona and Sturridge’s propensity for injuries already forcing him out action, the teenager has so far struck twice during the club’s tour of the US. A series of displays have already persuaded 23% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to snap up the midfielder, with Rodgers enthusing after a recent game against United:

  “I thought Sterling was outstanding, a real threat. The intensity in his game, how he presses the ball, and technically he’s very aware for a young player. When he runs at defenders he creates many opportunities. At 19 years of age he’s a young talent and getting better all the time.”

• Rodgers’ tactical tinkering works in the youngster’s favour. Whether out wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or fielded at the tip of a midfield diamond, his versatility ensures he will rarely be kept out of the Reds’ starting XI. With an influx of new signings potentially taking their time to settle, Rodgers will look to the teenager to step up as a key performer from the outset.

• Further analysis of Sterling’s stats from Gameweek 13 bodes very well. Having cemented his role in the first XI, he produced 106 touches in the box in the final 26 fixtures – third amongst midfielders – and was fourth for shots on target (21) and goals (nine) over that period amongst midfielders. Whilst Yaya Toure, Steven Gerrard and Eden Hazard all scored more across that time frame, the trio relied heavily on penalties or set-pieces to boost their points potential – essentially, Sterling scored more goals from open play from Gameweek 13 onwards than any other midfielder in the league.

• In spite of his tender years, Sterling has clearly developed over the last two seasons – particularly in front of goal. His shot accuracy of 26.5% in 2012/13 leapt to 48.9% last term, while he’s clearly far more clinical when face-to-face with the opposition keeper; after scoring just 5.9% of his efforts in his debut year, the Liverpool midfielder improved significantly and netted 20% of his efforts in 2013/14. With his successful dribble rate also on the up (from 40% to 59.2%) it’s clear that, as the years progress, he’s ever-improving his output under Rodgers’ guidance.

• The afore-mentioned lack of game time in the opening few months has ensured Sterling remains out of the premium bracket for now. While a cost of 8.5 in FPL makes him the eleventh most expensive midfield option, that price tag could still provide us with excellent value – it’s possible that, with Suarez gone, Gerrard’s number of penalties will drop significantly and with just 0.5 difference between the pair, Sterling’s more advanced role could elevate him as the main man in the Merseysiders midfield. Bearing in mind all 13 of Gerrard’s goals in 2013/14 arrived from dead-ball situations (10 spot-kicks and three free-kicks), he’s clearly far more reliant on set-pieces.