Monthly Archives: April 2014

‘Psychiatrist got me back on form’ – Sterling

The 19-year-old fell out of favour last season, but a return of nine goals and five assists since December has seen him become a key member under Brendan Rodgers this term

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling has revealed how a sports psychiatrist helped him rediscover his form.

Sterling broke into Liverpool’s first-team squad last season with a number of blistering performances, but suffered a slump in fortunes at the start of 2013-14 and fell out of favour in October and November.

But the 19-year-old has bounced back since December with nine goals and five assists in the Premier League as Liverpool look for a first Premier League title

Sterling reckons time spent with sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters – who will form part of the England backroom staff for the World Cup – helped him rediscover his positive, attacking style of play.

“Maybe on the outside people had the impression I’ve always been really confident,” the teenager told the Liverpool Echo.

“But after a good start [to last season] I started looking for easy options rather than taking a chance myself, beating a man, taking a shot on myself.

“I’d stopped being natural, all the things that I’d done which got me into the first team in the first place.

“You could look at the [Manchester] City goal as an example. I’m not trying to sound cheeky or over confident but three or four months ago I would have squared rather than take the responsibility all for myself.

“My goal was always to play for Liverpool when I first came here and maybe for a while I thought that goal was achieved because I was one of the lucky ones to do it. But you realise that is not enough. There always has to be the next challenge, to achieve things and win things – making your mark.

“From December time I realised I had to start stamping my personality, running with the ball, running into the box, making goals, scoring goals. Not playing with that barrier, not to be worried about making mistakes.”

Sterling added that his sessions with Dr Peters do not fit the stereotypical idea of psychiatry and are often incredibly simple.

“The way he works is brilliant. At first I thought it wasn’t for me. On the outside you might think it’s complicated but all the messages are very straightforward,” Sterling said.

“He understands the players and the emotional side of the game. What he says really helps you. We use a motto ‘focus on the ball, focus on the team’. I had a meeting with him before the City game.

“I thought it was going to last 20-25 minutes. So I walked in, sat down and he just said: ‘focus on the ball, focus on the team’. ‘Is that it?’ I asked him but it was really important.”

Liverpool investigate racism allegations

After an incident was reported to anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, the Reds say that they are looking into fans’ behaviour towards Chelsea striker Demba Ba

Liverpool are investigating allegations of racist abuse reportedly aimed at Chelsea’s Demba Ba in Sunday’s Premier League match at Anfield.

The incident was not thought to have been heard by the Senegal international, although it was reported to anti-discrimination group Kick It Out.

Premier League leaders Liverpool are now in the process of looking into it.

“We have been made aware of an allegation made to Kick it Out and we are investigating the matter,” a Liverpool spokesperson told Perform.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side won the game 2-0, with Ba opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time after capitalising on a slip by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

The Blues then completed the victory with a breakaway goal in second-half injury time as former Anfield fans’ favourite Fernando Torres set up forward Willian.

The result saw Chelsea close the gap on Liverpool to two points with two games remaining.

Don’t forget ‘remarkable’ year, Rodgers urges Liverpool

Though the Reds let control of the Premier League title race slip through their fingers, their manager wants to ensure that they focus on their triumphs

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has urged his side not to forget their “remarkable” season and wallow in their defeat to Chelsea.

The Reds have mounted an unexpected charge for the Premier League title this season but lost control of the race when they were beaten 2-0 on Sunday, allowing Manchester City back into the picture.

With games against Crystal Palace and Newcastle to come before the campaign is over, Rodgers says that he has reminded his squad of their achievements so far to avoid dwelling on the setback at Anfield.

“I just reminded the players of the values of how we work,” he told the press. “We have a way of working and I take pride in that. We might not have got the result [against Chelsea] but you have seen over the course of the season we have made great strides and we will continue to.

“At the start of the season, people saw it was a real challenge for us to be in the top four so, with two games to go, to be in the top three, really, really challenging, it’s something that is really remarkable.

“But I’m not surprised, because of how we have worked and level the players have performed at. The games we won on our unbeaten run were exceptional, we were outstanding, and I have reminded them of that.”

While table-toppers Liverpool have the league’s best attack with 96 goals, they have conceded 46 times – the worst record of the top five – but Rodgers says that he has been delighted with Simon Mignolet in his first season as the club’s goalkeeper.

The Northern Irishman told the Liverpool Echo: “I’ve been delighted with Simon since he has come in.

“I think he’s an outstanding goalkeeper who is only going to get better and better. He has come into a huge club and replaced a legendary figure at the club in Pepe Reina.

“That was always going to take a bit of time but, over the course of the season, he has made a big contribution. I don’t forget the significance of some of the saves he has made. Simon hasn’t ever cost us a game but he has certainly gained us points. He’s an excellent goalkeeper.”