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View from the Kop

Suso over Sterling?

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AGAINST a fairly strong Udinese side on Thursday night, the Reds put in perhaps their most assured display of the season. That’s not to say it was their best performance, but the team looked confident and comfortable throughout and looked like another goal was just around the corner.

It was an enjoyable game to watch and, for me, the most promising aspect was the performance of our young Spaniard, Suso. His passing was strong, his availability was constant and he chipped in with his first assist of the campaign to cap off his best display yet.

At just gone 19, he is a very promising prospect and brings to the table a lot of attributes that Liverpool have missed for a number of years. However, not too much should be expected of him just yet, as he needs to really mature into his game, and should be given the same time afforded to other youngsters.

So, given all the fuss being made of Sterling this season, the likes of Suso, Wisdom and Shelvey have gone largely unnoticed outside of the clubs’ own fan-base but, in my opinion, I believe that Suso is a more promising player than Sterling.

That isn’t to say that he’s better; that’s not what I’m saying. I simply believe that his worth to the club could be a lot more over the next 5+ years than Sterling’s.

For me, Sterling’s strength lies in his speed, dribbling and pace. He’ll more often than not have the beating of most full-backs and (having only just turned 18), he’ll likely not hit his top speed for another couple of years. He’s a very unpredictable player also, perhaps not quite to the same extent (or effect) as a Luis Suarez or Lionel Messi, but he gives defenders nightmares when he’s got the ball at his feet and is running toward them at full pelt.

Like Raheem, Suso is a very composed player, having yet to look at all flustered by the first-team action at a tender age but he’s also a much more mature player. What we’ve seen from Sterling so far is a young lad coming into every game and playing with the abandon of youth; everything is possible, but we’ve also seen this from other, similar young players such as Walcott, Lennon, Johnson and many others with similar skills and that initial burst of speed and creativity doesn’t quite pan out the way it should have.

However, Suso is growing into his role as a creative, intelligent midfielder, with great vision and a sixth-sense like ability to know where his team-mates are going to be. A quick glance across at his homeland and you’ll see that there are a few similar players to him which have become the lynch-pins of their respective teams.
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Having great pace and speed is great but you have to back it up with something more. At such a young age though, those are attributes that always catch our eye and we look at those players and assume that they will become world-class and turn games by themselves.

But, for me, it is the likes of Iniesta and Xavi that come to influence games more and that is why, despite being in a team ripe with attacking talent, both of the Spanish maestros pretty much always comes in the top 3 when the world’s best player awards are handed out. You can’t deny the talent it requires to create and score tons of goals but without players like Xavi and Iniesta, they would never be possible.

It’s a stretch right now to compare such a young, burgeoning talent to such esteemed countrymen, but he has all of the potential required to reach these heights; the club just needs to nurture him properly to ensure he does. Neither Iniesta or Xavi were first-team regulars before the age of 22, so he – nor us – should be too disheartened if he doesn’t even get off the bench every week.

So, while Sterling catches the eye far more at the moment now, with his pacey running and highly-charged approach to every game, he has still only contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 25 games this season – which is what makes those reported requests for upwards of £40k a week a bit too much to believe in.

And while Suso has played a good 10 games less, he has still only contributed a single assist and he only managed that against Udinese on Thursday night. But both are very promising young players and Reds the world over should be delighted to have both at the club and seeing regular action. In my opinion, though, we should be more excited by the prospect of what Suso may well become.

Which of these two youngsters do you believe has a brighter future at Liverpool Football Club?
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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

43 comments

  • lfctv says:

    Hello,

    Suso started quite a few matches for liverpool this season and in imho, these were the best attacking football the team played then.

    Now, it seems as though BR has banished Suso completely from the league matches.

    I wonder why? Did i miss something?

    • mon ami says:

      Correct!?? ‘l put ?? ? on d ? T???o sign U????? as d coach.YNWA

    • Micah says:

      I agree, He’s the sort of player who likes to penetrate defenses unlike Joe Allen who just keeps things simple. He’s very creative and not afraid to go for a slick pass. And to be honest, right now he is in fact better than sterling.

      I’m pretty sure they both could come out good for us, but right now, sterling is far from a finished product, he sometimes holds onto the ball too long and easily runs out of options. I don’t think it’s good for a youngster when he is already an instant starter at just 17, he needs competition which will improve his game, maybe after he signs the deal he needs to be put the bench.

  • REDman27 says:

    BR will bring in quality in the new year and hopefully get rid of crappy players like, Suarez Suso, sterling, and Lucas. Bring back Carroll, and play spearing, downing and cole just off him. I think Carlton cole and darren bent would be adequate cover, then we finally have a team.

  • segun says:

    Well i think suso will probably be the next messi of his generation if given adequate chances he deserves,sterling is just like any other player thou he is good also,but suso will achieve more greatness in the next 1year or there about.but nt taking anytin away from sterling,he is also a great player and will do exploit in his time too.great articule from you man.

  • Hugh Yao says:

    REDman27 are you even sane?

  • erons says:

    Redman27 ar a man united fan

  • Narco says:

    Redman 27
    Please stay of the crack pipe

  • jambul says:

    suso ahead sterling..yeah man..he got vision..more talented!!

  • Towson Tom says:

    So far it has to be Suso, As said above he has vision and will take on anyone, his passing is good, he moves off the ball well and hates losing it. Sterling on the other hand has to work on his passing, his vision is suspect, and is inconsistent, although he too hates being dispossessed and will work very hard to win it back, But Suso for me right now.

  • Mehn suso is best though he often play him.

  • Tommo says:

    Suso hasnt proved himself yet , he needs to be more consistant , score and create more than he has
    Sterling looks one of the worlds most talented and has proved already he can cope with PL
    so no contest at the moment

  • Ianc34 says:

    Personally I think Wisdom is going to be our best youngster to come through. He reminds me of micah richards, big strong, fastish, can cross-ish and is very good at defending. On top of that he doesn’t look like one to go after the money so can be a mainstay in the Liverpool team for a decade if he wants.

    I also think Suso is going to be very good, but sterling, sorry but not for me. Reminds me too much of shaun wright-phillips. He’s fairly quick, can beat a player or two but lacks assists and goals and has absolutely no skill to his armour. Fergy at United wants him to replace nanny, Sorry but players like nani and ronaldo before him looked a completely different class to Sterling when they was his age. If United bid £15 million for Sterling i’ll be straight up there packing his bags for him.

  • stah h says:

    Texiera is better than Suso – WHY ? are they not encouraging Him ?, playing Him in the right position? repeat Texiera is better than Suso who is good. ARE THEY STUPID.

  • Rose says:

    All in all for me i would prefer Suso over Sterling because sterling got too many chances of first team but he didn’t do anything even goal assistance except two assistance but Suso still didn’t get consecutive chances of first team so i don’t know why? BR look at Suso very well and give him chances that is all thnx

  • stah h says:

    Texiera – It can only be to save paying Porto more cash that is behind the club not bringing the lad along as they should, it is disgraceful, they should be building a team around him if they wont put him in the first team squad.

  • Amit says:

    I think Sterling is still not ready. Too naive and way short on game intelligence. Poor passing and trying to dribble too much. Suso is the better option. Very clever and holds the ball well.

    • Ritchie says:

      Wow , you really are clueless ! As dumb a comment as i have ever seen here , no surprise though , ive yet to see a intelligent comment from you anytime

      • Matt says:

        Agreed

      • slim says:

        I also agree. Best reply to that dumb comment. Sterling has been fantastic, even in the last match that he wasn’t firing on all cylinders, it was his clever on-time pass that created a goal for Cole. Both players are still raw materials at the moment but sterling is much better than Downing already. Suso is also a very promising lad and I’d rather have both than have either.

    • klaxton says:

      what a pillock u are amit

  • ameen says:

    I’ll pick suso. He’s more intelligent than sterlin is. He deserves more playing time than sterlin does but he won’t be given and i wonder why.

    • slim says:

      Did you watch Sterling play for the reserves or under 18s? He’s had a little dip in form and I expected it due to the contract saga and the extreme pressure. Even Cristiano Ronaldo is witnessing same at Madrid. We all saw players like CR7 too at 17 and we knew what it was like to watch a 17year old winger play. Bet me, when he develops more muscles and gains some more confidence, expect him to rip defenders apart on weekly basis.

  • Ian says:

    the 2 best youths we have Rodgers is not even giving a change to , Morgan and Coady

  • frank says:

    I definitely prefer the young talented Spaniard. He has intellegence, creative, endurance and knows the games well. His passing is superb. As such, BR SHOULD play him more often ( rather than Downing or Henderson.

  • chirans says:

    yes,suso is better than sterling becuase he is clever and he take care of ball while sterlin lose the ball at any time,also i? ?would like to see morgan and coady rather than henderson and sterling

  • chirans says:

    yes,suso is better than sterling becuase he is clever and he take care of ball while sterlin lose the ball at any time,also i would like to see morgan and coady rather than henderson and sterling

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