Rodgers expects Sterling to sign new Liverpool deal

Rodgers confident Sterling will sign new Liverpool deal

Nov 29, 2012 5:19:00 PM

The Reds boss is hopeful of securing the long-term future of the England international but is wary of burning out the 17-year-old, who has played 21 games so far this season

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed he expects to tie up a deal to secure the long-term future of Raheem Sterling.

The 17-year-old has been a revelation this season, breaking into the first team at Anfield and also earning his first England cap.

And the Reds are set to move quickly to keep the young starlet on Merseyside.

Rodgers told reporters: "The club and his representatives are in good dialogue and good communication, and hopefully we'll get that resolved very soon."

Sterling has made 21 appearances in this season and the former Swansea boss has admitted he is slightly concerned about burning the youngster out.

Rodgers said: "There will be at some point and we'll need to give him a breather, there's is no question [about that].

"He's a very young man and is still learning the game. He still has technical elements he needs to improve upon and tactical elements.

"But one of the biggest things is psychological at this level - real mental fatigue can set in.

"He's been terrific so far. He's got to this stage at the end of November and been absolutely brilliant, but at some point he will need that breather.

"He's been one of our leading players, but for the benefit of Raheem it'll be something I'll need to consider."

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Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

10:22 PM BST

Terrific stuff from Bayern attacking midfielder Thomas Muller, the kind of socks-around-the-ankles player that I think any true football fan inherently adores.

"It is hard to describe," he told ZDF. "I am completely done, I have cramps left and right. But I did not go off the pitch and it paid off. Physically I am over the limit now.

"When you are 68 years old and you have a record season and then you win the Champions League and have the chance for the triple, you can be happy you are 68 and not 25. Because then you can retire."

10:17 PM BST

An word from Goal Germany correspondent Tim Rohn on a night of redemption for Bayern Munich:

"One year after that bitter loss to Chelsea the Bayern are now the ones dancing on the pitch. BVB gets a farewell with much applause and a scraf parade. No matter that Bayern won: For every german football fan in London this will be a very long night."

10:13 PM BST

Happily, Dortmund's players aren't feeling too down about things. They're proud of what they've done, and rightly so. They've lit up the competition with their fearless brand of football.

"We are proud," Weidenfeller told ZDF. "We stood up to Bayern and we've had a great season in the Champions League. We gave everything and did our best to win that trophy. But we will come back again."

Sebastian Kehl added: "We played a fantastic match and gave a great account of ourselves. We can be proud. And of course we will attack again next season."

10:07 PM BST

Some early reaction from the man of the moment, Arjen Robben, who's unsurprisingly overcome with emotion.

"I heard so many people saying in the last weeks saying they would grant me this. They told me: 'You'll score the goal.' It’s not quite sunk in yet. There’s a lot of emotion.

"You know, this was such a close match. A match with two teams at the same level. It was an even game: they had chances; we had chances. For the goal, though, I just reacted to Franck's flick and then the ball went in."

You'll never hear or read a more simplistic description of the Dutchman's Champions League winner!

10:03 PM BST

Now it's Bayerns turn to climb Wembley's not-as-famous-as-they-used-to-be steps to collect their reward for sweeping all before them in Europe this season. They wait for their captain, Lahm, who takes a moment to compose himself before hoisting the Champions League trophy. After the misery of Munich 12 months ago, Bayern are now basking in the wonder of Wembley. Dortmund were magnificent but few could argue that Bayern have not been the best team in the Champions League this season. They deserve this, their inauguration as the new kings of Europe.

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