Liverpool players (left) and Dirk Kuyt - both pics GETTY
Liverpool players (left) and Dirk Kuyt - both pics GETTY
Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt shared his thoughts on former Reds striker Raheem Sterling, who now plies his trade for Feyenoords after stints at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Kuyt spent six seasons at Anfield - between 2006 and 2012 - with the Dutchman spending the last of his Reds campaign (2011-12) with Sterling, the Englishman's first at Anfield. The Dutchman rates Sterling highly but changed his opinion after the latter moved to Premier League rivals Manchester City in the summer of 2015.
The FC Dordrecht manager told ESPN (via Liverpool Echo) about Sterling's precocious talent and acknowledged the Englishman's impressive record in the English top flight:
"That was quite a few years ago, he was 16 then. We trained together a few times and played a few matches.
"Ultimately, I didn't like him that much because he quickly moved to a big rival. But Raheem Sterling, of course, is considered a fantastic player in English football with a tremendous record."
In the only season Kuyt and Sterling played together at Anfield, the Englishman made three appearances - all in the Premier League - but didn't score. After moving to Manchester City three years later, Sterling would win four Premier League titles in seven seasons, scoring 91 times in the competition.
Sterling would spend four seasons with Chelsea and one on loan at Arsenal before joining Feyenoord in January for the rest of the campaign folllowing the termination of his Blues contract. Overall, the England international has scored 123 times in the English top flight, winning the competition four times - all with City.
What's next for Liverpool?
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool bounced back from a 2-1 Premier League home defeat to Manchester City last week with a 1-0 victory at promoted Sunderland, who lost for the first time at home in the league this season.
Arne Slot's side next take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (February 14) for a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. In their campaign opener last month, the Reds had beaten Barnsley 4-1 at home.
Following the cup game, Slot's side return to Premier League action, closing out the month with a trip to Nottingham Forest on February 22 and welcoming West Ham United to Anfield six days later.