Sanchez v Sterling compared, as Rodgers likens Liverpool ace to Arsenal hero

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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has compared Raheem Sterling to Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

Here’s a look at how Raheem Sterling and Alexis Sanchez compare, after Brendan Rodgers linked the England international to the Arsenal star.

The Liverpool boss was speaking after Sterling hit two goals against Championship side Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup.

He was playing in a role up front, in which Sanchez has occasionally played for Arsenal, when not behind a frontman or on the wing.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live, report InsideFutbol: “Raheem Sterling was brilliant. I played him as a striker, but you get different types of striker.

“He’s more of an Alexis Sanchez when he plays as a striker – he’s not going to pin the defender. He plays in the spaces and he’s got the speed to get in behind.”

Comparing Opta figures available for both players for Champions League and Premier League games, Sanchez’s superior goal record stands out clearly.

Aside from that however the two are surprisingly well matched even though Sterling has played two more games, Sanchez creating one more assist and four more chances.

Sterling’s tackling and dribbling is at a similar rate to Sanchez, and shows he possesses the hard work and trickery to be as effective. He is not as polished as the Chilean, and needs to add more of a goal threat, but there’s real promise.