Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is ‘adamant’ that Raheem Sterling will stay at the club despite reported interest from Europe’s finest, but on current form it will be equally important for him to tie down Jordan Henderson for the long-term at Anfield.
Sterling’s future has been the subject of interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. The 19-year-old set up the decisive goal for Henderson as Liverpool returned to winning ways.
Liverpool know the £30,000-a-week deal they agreed with Sterling 18 months ago is low for an international regular and, while Rodgers revealed discussions have started about a new contract, no agreement appears imminent.
‘It’s not a big issue for us. Ian Ayre (Liverpool’s chief executive) has spoken with his representatives and he is quite relaxed,’ said Rodgers. ‘The club is dealing with the agent so everything is calm and the boy is remarkably happy here and there are no secondary thoughts about anything else other than continuing to play for Liverpool.’
Asked directly if he thought Sterling wanted to stay, Rodgers replied: ‘Yes. Absolutely adamant. His agent is a good agent and he understands this is the perfect place for him.’
So far, the contract situation surrounding Henderson has gone under the radar. But that won’t last for long when he produces man-of-the-match performances like he did at the weekend, setting up Liverpool’s opener for Adam Lallana with a delightful flick and then scoring the 61st-minute winner with a low drive to earn his club their first league win since August.Henderson, 24, is inside the final two years of a £40,000-a-week deal he signed when he joined from Sunderland in 2011.
No concrete offer has yet been made, but he will hope that changes after Daniel Sturridge signed a new five-year contract last week.
Rodgers will be glad to have Sturridge back from a thigh injury for their next fixture against QPR on October 19. In the striker’s absence, he started Rickie Lambert on Saturday and sent on Mario Balotelli in the second half — but neither could beat Albion keeper Ben Foster despite a number of attempts.
Albion have their own sharp-shooter, England Under 21 forward Saido Berahino who scored his sixth goal of the season when his penalty briefly got his side back to 1-1. Berahino had his problems last season, but manager Alan Irvine insisted: ‘His approach to his job is fantastic.’
A 44,000 crowd at Anfield included the agent of ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who has been linked with a January move to Liverpool.
Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Mignolet 6.5; Manquillo 5.5 (Johnson 64min, 6), Skrtel 5.5, Lovren 6, Moreno 6; Gerrard 6; Sterling 6, Henderson 7.5, Coutinho 6 (Lucas 75, 5), Lallana 7; Lambert 5.5 (Balotelli 64, 5.5). Subs not used: Jones, Toure, Markovic, Borini. Booked: Skrtel, Gerrard.
Scorers: Lallana 45, Henderson 61.
West Brom (4-4-1-1): Foster 6.5; Gamboa 6.5, Dawson 6, Lescott 6, Pocognoli 6; Brunt 5.5 (Samaras 86), Dorrans 6 (Mulumbu 71, 5.5), Morrison 5.5 (Blanco 80), Gardner 5.5; Sessegnon 6; Berahino 7. Subs not used: Myhill, Baird, Yacob, McAuley. Booked: Dawson, Lescott.
Scorer: Berahino 56 pen.
Man of the match: Jordan Henderson.
Referee: Michael Oliver 6.
JUST four players have made more assists than Jordan Henderson since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Liverpool man has provided 10. – Daily Mail