Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is expecting teenager Raheem Sterling to continue to fulfil his potential in the coming season. "I thought he was outstanding the other night (against an Indonesia XI).

"He's come back refreshed. He did work over the course of pre-season and was back and forward from his holidays into Melwood preparing himself well.

"He looks so fit, he looks sharp, he looks better than what he was last summer when I came in and I think he'll play a big part for us again this season.

"At 18 years of age, he has so much potential.

"If we nurture that well and he can retain his focus and mentality, he can be a big talent for Liverpool.

"I've been pleased with what I've seen from him so far."

"It was a year ago when I came into the club and he came away with us on pre-season as a reserve/youth-team player, and his enthusiasm, quality and tenacity really hit me," Rodgers told liverpoolfc.com.

"He ended up starting the season after the West Brom game and for the first six months he was sensational.

"He ended up getting a full England cap, which shows you the impact he made at 17 years of age, and make over 30 (Liverpool) appearances.

"Towards the end of the season, there was a natural drop-off purely because of the youthfulness of him and also because of the pressure of playing for Liverpool and at the very top end of the game.

"I took him out of that, he had a little injury at the end of the season as well but I wanted to protect him and make sure he doesn't have too many miles on the clock too early."