Liverpool wonderkid Raheem Sterling proves his worth

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed the efforts of youngster Raheem Sterling after handing him his first Premier League start.

Rodgers thrust the 17-year-old into a baptism of fire against the reigning Premier League champions on Sunday and the young winger passed that test with flying colours.

The pacy teenager gave the City defence no end of trouble, with Kolo Toure in particular finding him difficult to contend with, as he formed part of a three-man Reds attack also featuring Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini.

Rodgers claims Sterling did everything that was asked of him in the 2-2 draw, after previously playing the Jamaican-born starlet from the off in Liverpool’s Europa League tie against Hearts on Thursday.

The Reds boss said: “It was an easy decision. I said when I first came in I wouldn’t judge people on their status, on what they are or what they have done but on what I see in front of me.

“He is a young player who has just improved every single day since I came in here. He was a player that played on his own in the one-on-ones.

“You look at him fighting for the team, his tactical understanding playing a really experienced player – he was blocking the lines of the pass, he was pressing at the right time, he was coming back to block the lines inside.

“For a 17-year-old playing against the champions, I thought his performance was fantastic but he has a long way to go because you have got to be consistent and that is something I’ll have to keep a close eye on.”