Raheem Sterling may have scored a delicious lob against Sunderland, but it was Luis Suarez who once again stole the headlines at Anfield — and the youngster revealed how he is trying to learn from his prolific colleague every day.
The Uruguayan assisted the 18-year-old for the opener on Wednesday night before slotting away two goals of his own to increase his tally for the season to 18.
And Sterling, fresh from committing his long-term future to the Reds last month, explained postgame how he tries to learn from his teammate at every opportunity.
“Everyone knows how good he is. To play with him is one of the best things ever,” the No. 31 told Liverpoolfc.com. “You try to assist him with a few goals and get into the box for a few knockdowns and goals for yourself.
“With a player like that, you’ve just got to give him the ball and try to get in behind as he played me in today. It’s good to play off him and he’s a really good player to play with.
“He speaks to me a lot, telling me to move the ball quicker and stuff like that. In training, I try to watch him and take a few things off him.
“He’s a great player. As a young player, that’s what you’ve got to do — try to take a bit off players like him and [Steven] Gerrard and bring it to your own game.”
A precise lob over visiting goalkeeper Simon Mignolet set Liverpool on its way to three points against the Black Cats — and provided Sterling with his second senior strike for the club.
“I’ve only scored two so that was the best one I’ve scored so far and hopefully there’ll be more,” he continued. “I thought we started a bit slowly but then we got into our game as we knew we could play — it was good to get the three points we really needed.”
The victory was the Reds’ third in four Barclays Premier League fixtures across the Christmas period, and Sterling is confident that the side can maintain their impressive home form during 2013.
He revealed that the manager’s message to the players has been: “Make Anfield one of the most fearful places to come to in England. We’ve been doing that in the last few weeks. We’re trying to look forward now, keep the consistency going and hopefully keep going in 2013.”
That objective will be boosted by the arrival of Daniel Sturridge — a player Sterling knows from international duty and cannot wait to work with at Anfield.
“I met up with Daniel when I went away with the senior England side — I know him quite well and I spoke to him on the phone. He’s a good lad and I’m looking forward to working with him at this football club,” he concluded.
