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Sterling could win it for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL — He does not always know where to stand or when to run, but Raheem Sterling (picture) is not crocked, ageing or unreliable — so that makes him Liverpool’s best centre forward option right now.

LIVERPOOL — He does not always know where to stand or when to run, but Raheem Sterling (picture) is not crocked, ageing or unreliable — so that makes him Liverpool’s best centre forward option right now.

While many questioned Brendan Rodgers’ decision to deploy the 20-year-old as a roving striker at Old Trafford last weekend, I saw it as a shrewd move. Okay, he forgot his shooting boots in that contest, but the stress he caused Manchester United’s back line should not be overlooked.

Gliding into unusual positions, beating defenders with or without the ball, and always asking for passes to be delivered into space right behind his markers’ shoulders, Sterling was a constant, unwanted pest that United were fortunate not to be hurt by.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, the youngster remembered how to stick the ball in the onion bag in midweek, scoring twice in a top-class 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup. Skipping freely into the penalty area like a bunny in spring, you could tell he was enjoying himself too.

As a consequence, Arsene Wenger will be worried about Sterling, and so too will his stand-in captain.

Back in February, the entire SASAS squadron — Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Sterling — caused destruction with their unpredictable movement, but it was Sterling’s annihilation of Per Mertesacker that lives longest in the memory.

Deliberately targeting the giant German, England’s bright young thing tied the World Cup winner into a double knot and even had time to put a bow on it. Dragged into areas he did not want to go, deceived by the then teenager’s rapid changes of direction, Mertesacker probably still had motion sickness by the time he arrived back in London.

In his new striker’s role, you can be sure the Reds front man will seek out the same player and see if he can twizzle him senseless again.

Man for man, Arsenal are now the better side, but with Sterling in their ranks, Liverpool still have one player who can win it for them on his own — and sometimes that is all it takes. ADRIAN CLARKE

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