Jamie Carragher has lauded the ‘fantastic’ one-time Liverpool man, Raheem Sterling, and how he is now a ‘level above’, Harry Kane, as he told Sky Sports (19/12/21 at 1:40 pm).
The Liverpool legend watched Sterling make his debut as a teenager to now joining the Premier League’s 100 club many years later in the colours of Manchester City.
Carragher added that he loves Sterling as a player and mentioned how he ‘rarely’ gets injured.
In the summer, the flying forward, who went into Euro 2020 on the back of poor form, ended up being England’s most important goal threat.
It all ended in heartache at Wembley, but that didn’t stop the 27-year-old from being praised for his efforts throughout the tournament.
Since then, he has once again found his form on the domestic stage and recently scored his 101st goal in England’s top-flight.
Carragher was asked whether he thought Sterling would reach such levels when he first came across him on Merseyside.
“No, and that’s not saying he wasn’t a special talent because he was,” said Carragher. “But what he has gone on to achieve, in terms of the medals, the goals and the numbers. It’s fantastic.
“The lad I knew at Liverpool, this wasn’t a cocky, arrogant and young kid. This was a shy lad that was desperate to be the best player he could possibly be. Almost the perfect professional from what I saw at Liverpool and the way he performed.
“I absolutely love him. I think he is fantastic. I saw a stat, there is only Messi and Aguero who have scored more goals for Pep Guardiola than Raheem Sterling.
“That shows one, obviously the goal record, but also he doesn’t get injured. That’s what I love about him. For me, he’s England’s best attacker and has moved a level above Kane by what he did in the summer.”
Sterling will never be forgiven for leaving Liverpool for Man City in 2015, even if he has trophies and medals in his cabinet.
At the end of the day, the Reds will forever be a bigger club than those from the Etihad, so it will always be seen as a step-down.
But he has the medals around his neck and he has played a huge part in the success Guardiola has had during his time in English football.
The best thing about it all is that he is yet to hit the peak form of his career and when he does that then he will really explode.
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