Raheem Sterling left Liverpool for Premier League rivals Manchester City for £49million, but would he be a starter at Anfield these days?
Raheem Sterling is enjoying by far the most productive season of his career.
With 20 goals in all competitions and Manchester City cruising to the Premier League title, the events of this campaign alone seemingly justify his decision to fight his way out of Liverpool three years ago.
Swapping Anfield for the Etihad Stadium, Sterling always insisted, was about trophies and personal development, not enhancing his bank balance.
But despite the clear improvements he has made under the watchful eye of Pep Guardiola this season, it seems that there are few Liverpool fans who would have Sterling back at Anfield given the choice.
And this is less a reflection on the 23-year-old and more a testament to the wonderful attacking talents Liverpool have signed since he headed to Manchester during the final few months of Brendan Rodgers’ reign.
In Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and the remarkable Mo Salah, Liverpool boast a front line that would be the envy of almost any team in world football right now.
Between them, the fab three have netted 73 goals in all competitions; Salah grabbing 36 on his own. So, three years after Sterling broke the fans’ hearts and jumped ship to the tune of £49 million, would he even get in Liverpool’s starting XI right now?
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