Rodgers reveals work behind goal
Brendan Rodgers has revealed how Raheem Sterling's first competitive goal for the club was a move straight from the training ground.
The 17-year-old became Liverpool's second youngest goalscorer of all-time behind Michael Owen as he fired in the 1-0 victory over Reading.
Playing on the left, Sterling chose his moment to wander into a central position ready to latch onto a Luis Suarez throughball.
He then kept his composure to slot past goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Afterwards Rodgers said: "It's a part of the game we've been working on. The players on the outside, the No.7 and No.11, we're trying to get them in the positions so they can make those runs.
"He's got good pace, Raheem, so once he's on the inside he can break the line of the back four.
"We've been doing a lot of work on that on the training field but all the credit goes to him because he's got to identify the moment to go in.
"It was a wonderful finish because he was going away from the goal, and he's got a quick defender tracking him.
"He's a terrific talent and he's got a good head on young shoulders."
Another player to earn words of praise from the manager was Luis Suarez, who hobbled out for the second period with a dead leg and continued to harass the Reading defence until full-time.
"He got a dead leg just before half-time, he got kneed on his thigh," said Rodgers.
"People judge him from the outside, and I was probably one of those as well before I came into here, but when you actually come in and you work with him...
"He's travelled all around the world, played at altitude, got back late Thursday, trained on Friday morning and still goes out and runs and works and gives his all for the team, doesn't want to come off.
"He's an incredible character.
"He created opportunities for himself. He'll be disappointed he hasn't scored today."
Asked by reporters if Suarez needed to convert more of his chances, the boss replied: "He scores a lot of chances. He's not perfect, he's not going to score every chance, but he's got a great return if you look at his stats, at his goals return at Ajax and since he's come into here.
"There's no doubt he'll want to be a wee bit more clinical, and going forward we want to get some more players around him who can take the load off him as well.
"He leads the line terrifically for us. His movement and creativity is great, and he obviously had a nice moment with the supporters (the home fans stood as one to applaud sarcastically) when he got brought down for the free-kick, which was nice."
The victory over his former club was Rodgers' first at Anfield in the league.
He said: "It's been a long time coming, we should have had three points here long before today. But on the back of an international break and players travelling all over the world, I thought it was a terrific performance.
"We need to improve our finishing, which is an ongoing theme, but as long as we get three points and a clean sheet, that's the most important thing. I'm delighted for the players and the supporters.
"You don't want it to keep dragging on. What always gave me comfort was the mindset and ability of the players. They've kept working.
"Today was important because any team that comes up from the Championship, and I know from Swansea last year, is going to come to the iconic stadiums and try to make it difficult.
"That was the case today. Reading are a terrific club and last time they were here they won 1-0."