Can we just put all of this bullshit about Raheem Sterling's mental toughness to bed!? Seriously, if you'd have showed that game yesterday with the volume down to somebody with no prior knowledge of Raheem's history, do you think they'd have identified him as a player that was especially struggling in the game? No, the game was littered with individual errors that cost us. He played with heart, chased everything down and only ended up getting booked after being kicked to death by their players.
- We're talking about a guy who played in the manchester derby after being physically assaulted a few weeks ago. Has faced death threats against himself and his family week in week out on social media over the last few years but continues to keep his head down and improve as a player.
- He lost his father in the most violent circumstances at a young age but has applied himself and made it to the very top of the game.
- He's the one who has found himself with the ball at his feet when we've needed a goal with the last kick of the game on multiple occasions this season and he hasn't let us down.
- Third highest goal scorer in the premier league despite constant criticism about his finishing ability.
- Possibly our most improved player this season desire his future with us being called into question by many back in August.
- One of our more consistent champions league performers over the last three years (even when the rest of the team was putting in below par performances)
All of this goes on against a constant backdrop of racist negative reporting in the press about his completely inoffensive lifestyle choices.
The entire team has failed to put in a strong performance at Anfield since he joined and until we do, it's ridiculous to single him out as a weak link in these games.
The guy is total iron, so before you start questioning his mental toughness from behind your keyboards maybe have a bit more of a think about how ridiculous that actually is. If you can't ignore the boos then that's your problem but if Sterling was asked whether he was up for going and playing at Anfield again tomorrow then I'm in no doubt he'd be 100% up for it. Despite pressure from their fans, their management and the media, Sterling stuck to his guns and left Anfield at a young age to test himself at a team with bigger ambitions. He'll have a premier league winners medal by the end of this season and nobody will deserve it more than him.
Well said.