Raheem Sterling: Guided by the advice of his intermediary
Liverpool's Raheem Sterling is filling the headlines and attracting criticism from all corners but it's all a typical case of 'bad advice', says Sky Sportspundit Phil Thompson.
Sterling stirred controversy earlier this week when confirming rumours he had turned down a £100,000-a-week offer to stay at Anfield beyond his current contract, which keeps him at the club until the summer of 2017.
Sterling then took to the media to say he was completely focused on winning trophies with the club, while rubbishing suggestions he was a"money-grabbing 20-year-old".
"It’s becoming very like the Suarez situation now. Liverpool are in control of this, no matter what Raheem or his agent thinks."
"Not just over his contract situation, but coming forward to do a televised interview," Thompson told Sky Sports.
"If, as he has suggested, he wanted to put the matter to bed until the end of the season, to bring it up again and especially before a vital game against Arsenal, it's not the right way of doing things.
"And it shows his representative is inexperienced and is giving Raheem bad advice.
"I believe he's a young agent who used to work for a big firm that used to take care of Raheem, but now he's gone on his own and he's advising him - badly in my opinion.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Raheem Sterling won't be signing for any other club in the summer.
"It smacks of self-interest from the agent and Raheem is probably too young to realise that. It's becoming very like the Suarez situation now. Liverpool are in control of this, no matter what Raheem or his agent thinks.
"It could be a stand-off for a while, but it's the football club who suffer from this type of thing. If he was to stay and things don't go right in the next two to three years, he'd certainly have the opportunity to re-negotiate his future.
"For me, this is the right place for him to be playing his football, there's no need to force a move just yet.
"Anyone would tell him that, yet for some reason, Raheem and his advisor can't see what's right in front of them.
"It seems as though they want as much MONEY as someone who's played at Liverpool week-in week-out for five or six years. He's yet to do that - he's a good player now, but he's not yet a great player."
As the Premier League season approaches its climax, we look at the stats to see which players have starred in 2014/15.
Below are the top-ranking XI according to WhoScored.com's stat-based rating system. How many of these players will make the official Premier League Team of the Season - and what do you make of this XI?
Costel Pantilimon: Makes more saves-per-game than any PL 'keeper
The Sunderland stopper has not had the happiest of times since moving to the Stadium of Light last summer and initially had to settle for a spell on the bench, however, he has made the starting berth his own with some fine performances between the sticks. He is making more saves per game (4.1) than any other first-choice goalie, and he is skilled at dealing with shots from various distances, leading the Premier League for saves per game from shots inside the box (2.3) and outside (1.8). With a saves-to-shots ratio (78.4%) second only to Arsenal’s David Ospina (who has only made 10 appearances), Pantilimon could do with a little more help from his defence.
Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea – 7.35
Branislav Ivanovic: Has made 69 tackles this season
Now undisputedly the best right-back in England according to theWhoScored.com ratings, Ivanovic has dispelled any thoughts of Pablo Zabaleta holding this crown this season, with sound defensive performances sprinkled with dangerous forays forward. Dribbled past only 13 times all season while making some 69 tackles, the Serb has also helped out with four goals and four assists in the league alone, all but two of which have come this calendar year, as he finishes a marathon of a season with a sprint.
James Tomkins, West Ham – 7.46
James Tomkins: Won more aerial duels than other PL centre-backs
Part of an impressive West Ham rearguard, Tomkins has been a rock at the back, averaging 9.8 clearances per game, while winning the most aerial duels (4.8 per game) of all centre-backs. He has been a reliable defender for Sam Allardyce, avoiding a single error that has led to an opposition goal all season, while also contributing with a goal and three assists of his own at the other end.
Phil Jones, Manchester United – 7.46
Phil Jones: Second-most interceptions this season
It is fair to say that Louis van Gaal has had to face a few problems in defence since he moved to Old Trafford, with injuries aplenty disrupting his settling-in period. He has enjoyed the luxury of being able to select a more consistent defence of late, however, with Jones playing a key part. He is making the second most interceptions per game (3.6) in the whole Premier League, behind only Mile Jedinak, as well as adding 2.1 tackles and 6.9 clearances.
Gael Clichy, Manchester City – 7.43
Gael Clichy: Consistent performances for Man City
The extent of Gael Clichy’s consistency has gone rather under the radar this season. In only one game has he recorded a WhoScored.com rating below 6.80, and only four more times has he gone below 7.00; both astounding achievements. His rating comes as a result of a hugely impressive 3.4 interceptions per game, along with 2.5 tackles and significant attacking threat (three assists and 1.1 key passes per game).
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal – 7.84
Alexis Sanchez: Made an instant impact at Arsenal
He might have faded a little of late, but no one can deny the immediacy of the impact that Sanchez made upon his arrival in London last year. Many thought he was an unnecessary signing for a Gunners team lacking in other areas, but while some team-mates floundered, the Chilean carried the team through a tricky winter period. He ranks fifth in the Premier League for goals scored (13) and seventh for assists (seven), while also averaging the third-most dribbles per game (3.5).
Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea – 7.73
Cesc Fabregas: Far more assists than any other PL player
Many thought Arsene Wenger had made a huge mistake by passing up the opportunity to re-sign Fabregas last summer and the Spaniard made a fast start at Chelsea. He has picked up a whopping 16 assists in his 26 Premier League games, a total no player can better over both of the past two seasons. He unsurprisingly leads the league for key passes per game (3.0), while he has also put a team-mate in on goal with a through ball 13 times, more than eight of the 20 Premier League teams have managed in total.
Santi Cazorla, Arsenal – 7.65
Santi Cazorla: Arsenal's chief assist-maker
One player making Fabregas’ absence at the Emirates that bit more bearable is Cazorla, who is the only player who can match the Chelsea man’s assist tally since the start of last season (16). He has eight this term, which is the third most in the league, while seven goals is impressive considering the deep-lying role he has occupied for much of the campaign. He's proved a constant menace for opposition teams, with 2.4 dribbles, 2.3 shots and 2.2 key passes per game, while his 87.8 per cent pass success is very high given how infrequently Cazorla plays the ‘easy’ pass.
Eden Hazard, Chelsea – 8.02
Eden Hazard: Tops the table for dribbles completed
Leading the way in the player of the year stakes, Hazard stands out from the crowd having maintained form over the whole of the 2014/15 campaign, while rivals for that title have been through quiet patches. He is hugely involved in play high up the pitch, completing a colossal 145 more passes in the final third (844) than any other player, while his work rate is underrated; he has won possession in the attacking third more times (28) than anyone else. It is no surprise to learn that he has been successful with by far the most dribble attempts (136) in the Premier League this season, while he also has 11 goals and six assists to his name.
Diego Costa, Chelsea – 7.60
Diego Costa: Premier League joint-top scorer
The grateful recipient of Cesc Fabregas’ creative genius, six of Costa’s 19 Premier League goals have been the result of the former Barcelona man. Costa is the leading scorer, scoring more often that one in every four shots, with a 25.3 per cent conversion rate. He takes the third most shots per game in the top flight (3.3), but also creates, with 1.7 key passes per appearance.
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City – 7.58
Sergio Aguero: Contributed to more goals than any other PL player
Many will have forgotten quite how good Aguero was earlier in the season given that he has had a relative slump of late. In fact, the Argentine has directly contributed to more goals (23) than any other player in England’s top tier this season, with 17 goals and six assists, despite only starting 22 of a possible 30 matches. He is the biggest goal threat in the Premier League, averaging a whopping 4.5 shots per game, also completing 2.6 dribbles per game. Some fans might question Aguero’s presence in this team over man-of-the-moment Harry Kane, but the England man’s rating is brought down by his six substitute appearances at the start of the season. With eight games remaining, there is all to play for in terms of the individual awards, and if Kane continues playing as he has been, it won’t be long before he closes in on the scores that Aguero and Costa boast.
Raheem Sterling: No word on his future until the summer
Raheem Sterling will not discuss his future at Liverpool until the end of the season, according to Sky sources.
A source close to the England forward says any talks over a new deal are on hold until the summer but insists the 20-year-old remains '100 per cent committed to the club'.
Sterling's contract runs out at the end of next season and earlier this month, manager Brendan Rodgers said Anfield would be the best place for the Jamaica-born winger to further his career.
"It is something we can't worry ourselves on," he said.
"The boy is happy here and I repeat, if you have the interest of the kid and his football development at this stage of his career, this is the best place to be."
Sterling scored his first senior goal for England in the 4-0 win over Lithuania in the European Qualifiers last Saturday but will miss Tuesday's friendly against Italy in Turin after returning to Liverpool following an injection on a toe injury.
Raheem Sterling was thrilled to get on the scoresheet in England's 4-0 win against Lithuania
Liverpool signed Sterling from the Queens Park Rangers’ academy in 2010 for a fee of £600,000.
He made his senior debut as a substitute in a league match against Wigan in March 2012 - aged 17 years and 107 days - becoming the third youngest player for the club behind Jerome Sinclair and Jack Robinson.
England face Italy on Tuesday night and Sky Sports pundit Matt Le Tissier has put himself in Roy Hodgson's shoes to pick the starting XI.
England have improved markedly since the World Cup and they face Italy on Tuesday full of confidence after a 4-0 win over Lithuania, aiming for an eighth straight win.
However, Hodgson is unable to call upon Raheem Sterling or Danny Welbeck, who are missing through injury, and the England manager is expected to make a number of changes for the trip to Turin.
Le Tissier England XI (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart, Ryan Bertrand, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Nathaniel Clyne; Michael Carrick, Jordan Henderson; Theo Walcott, Ross Barkley, Harry Kane; Wayne Rooney.
Matt Le Tissier England XI
"This game gives Hodgson a chance to have a look at the fringe players and some that could step up," he said on the Morning View.
"It’s a great opportunity for someone to play a part in a big victory. If they get a win in Italy, then they will go a long way in Hodgson’s thinking when he names his next squad.
"I wanted a formation that got Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney in the same team. Kane can play in that position (behind a lone striker) quite comfortably and I’d like to see him make a partnership with Rooney.
"He’s not so isolated if you play him behind the striker. If you play him as the one up front on his own and you don’t get players around him, he may not look as good. I think Barkley and Walcott either side of him can provide pace and flair and stretch the opposition."
MATT PREDICTS: "I think it will be a low scoring draw. Either 0-0 or 1-1."
Tony Cascarino England XI
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino was also a guest on the Morning Viewand presented his thoughts on how Hodgson should approach the game.
Cascarino England XI (4-4-2): Joe Hart, Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ryan Bertrand; Michael Carrick, Jordan Henderson, Theo Walcott, Andros Townsend; Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney.
"I want to see England play them as a partnership - similar to Matt, I’d like to see Kane and Rooney together," he said.
"I'd be looking for both to get good service with Walcott down the right, who can still do an incredible job for somebody - his pace is blistering.
If Roy plays my team, they’ll win! But I think it will pan out to be a draw.
Tony Cascarino
"Also, I’d stick Townsend on the left. I’ve had enough of seeing him cutting in on his left foot from the right. He’s blisteringly quick as well. He’s a guy that is very capable of standing out in this England team.
"Both those boys out wide would scare the life out of any full-backs with their pace. With that you’ve also got the solidarity of Henderson and Carrick in the midfield.
“I think Kyle Walker needs a game. He’s fallen down the pecking order and it would be a big night for him to get a game.”
Zinedine Zidane is currently manager of Real Madrid Castilla
Zinedine Zidane admits he would want to take over from Carlo Ancelotti as manager of Real Madrid.
The former Juventus and Real star, who has been learning the ropes as coach of Real's reserve side Castilla, also set out his ambitions for the France national team job.
"Yes I would go for that [the Real Madrid job]," he told Canal Plus. "There is already a coach (Carlo Ancelotti) in place who is doing a great job.
"Do I feel ready if I was offered the first team? You are never ready, but if it happened like that I would have to say yes."
The 42-year-old added France, who he won the World Cup with in 1998, to his managerial wish list.
"I was a player in this team and it would be good, one day (to be coach), but for the moment there is a coach (Didier Deschamps) who is doing a great job. But yes I have this target, this ambition," Zidane said.
The former world player of the year retired from club and international football in 2006, and has said he has time to wait until taking on a bigger post.
Harry Kane: In Turin ahead of making his full debut
Harry Kane will make his first start for England in Tuesday night's friendly with Italy, England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed.
The 21-year-old Tottenham striker impressed last week in the 4-0 win over Lithuania and called his debut goal for England "a dream come true" after scoring 79 seconds after coming off the bench at Wembley.
Hodgson declined to reveal his full team line-up, but said he was thrilled at the prospect of having Kane and skipper Wayne Rooney starting upfront in Turin.
"It’s nice to see both of them on the field together," Hodgson said. "They played a lot in training and I am pleased to see them playing together from the start. Harry certainly deserves his chance and I’m looking forward to the game.
Harry Kane scored 79 seconds into his England debut from the bench as Roy Hodgson’s men beat Lithuania 4-0.
"We are taking it very seriously. It’s a great opportunity for the players who haven't had a chance in the qualifiers to show they really deserve their place in the squad and that they’re good enough to replace the players I’ve been selecting before them.
"All friendly matches during qualification allow you to see where players are. It's an opportunity for players to impress both managers."
Hodgson's team will face the Italians on Tuesday night looking to avenge their World Cup defeat in Brazil last summer.
The England manager will be without nine players from the squad which defeated Lithuania in their European Qualifier on Friday night, which means he is likely to start with a number of fringe players in an experimental line-up at the Juventus Stadium.
Hodgson's squad boast a 100 per cent record in friendlies and European Qualifying games since their miserable World Cup campaign, having played seven and won seven, scoring an impressive 19 goals and conceding just two.
With his Italy counterpart Antonio Conte announcing his full starting line-up on Monday, Hodgson declined the request by Sky Sports football chief reporter Nick Collins to do the same.
Hodgson added: "I understand why Antonio has done that because this is a friendly match and it's a time to experiment with players.
"But if you really want to know our line-up you will have to wait until Tuesday night when the game kicks off."
Lionel Messi has out-shone his rival Ronaldo so far in 2015
Lionel Messi is the best forward in 2015 – while Cristiano Ronaldo is only 29th on a list of top attackers.
These are the findings of a study conducted by the CIES Football Observatory, which has analysed the performances of players in Europe’s leading leagues since January 1.
The rankings take into account relevant statistics for different positions and find Barcelona's Messi - who has scored 17 in 12 La Liga games this year - streets ahead of his Real Madrid rival.
Ronaldo, who has scored six in 11 league matches in 2015, was, however, ahead of team-mates Gareth Bale (35th) and Karim Benzema (37th).
Diego Costa is the leading Premier League forward in fifth place, behind Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben, Wolfsburg’s Bas Dost and Barcelona’s Luis Suarez.
Elsewhere, the study, which focuses on the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, found Manchester City’s Gael Clichy to be the top-ranked full-back and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard to be the number one attacking midfielder, ahead of Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and City’s Jesus Navas.
Former Liverpool loanee Nuri Sahin, now at Borussia Dortmund, tops the central midfielder table from the past three months, while Man City’s Martin Demichelis misses out on the centre-back crown to Emir Spahic of Bayer Leverkusen.
Top forwards
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Bas Dost (Wolfsburg)
Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Diego Costa (Chelsea)
Chelsea's Eden Hazard is the top attacking-midfielder according to CIES
Top attacking midfielders
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Jesus Navas (Man City)
Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg)
Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund)
Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund leads central midfielders
Top central midfielders
Nuri Sahin (Dortmund)
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Fernandinho (Man City)
Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund)
Manchester City's Gael Clichy is the No 1 full-back
Top full-backs
Gael Clichy (Man City)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Rafinha (Bayern Munich)
Wendell Nascimento (Bayer Leverkusen)
Pablo Zabaleta (Man City)
Martin Demichelis just misses out on the centre-back title
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Raheem Sterling won't be signing for any other club in the summer.
as someone who's played at Liverpool week-in week-out for five or six years. He's yet to do that - he's a good player now, but he's not yet a great player."
