BR: Raheem can cope with closer marking
Brendan Rodgers expects Raheem Sterling to be a marked man in domestic and European competition this season but has complete faith in the forward's ability to continue troubling opposition defences.
A breakthrough campaign for the 19-year-old in 2013-14 earned a place in the England squad for the World Cup, where he further expressed his innate potential, receiving increased recognition for his skillset of pace, control and pressure.
His form was maintained into the outset of the new season as the No.31 struck the target against both Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, despite the new level of attention being provided by backlines tasked with stopping him.
As the Reds prepare for their second European occasion - a trip to FC Basel this Wednesday for the next Champions League Group B matchday - the manager spoke of his confidence in Sterling's capacity to cause problems.
"It's pretty clear, from the games this season, that Raheem sometimes has two or three men around him at all times," Rodgers explained.
"If you look at the game against Ludogorets [Razgrad], he had a marker following him everywhere, and I bet that he can expect to have a lot more of that kind of attention.
"Is it affecting Raheem's performances? Not really. He has been brilliant so far and, hopefully, he will continue to keep that kind of consistency in his game.
"What we have to do as a team is to try to release the pressure from him. All I ask of Raheem is that, tactically, he fits into the way the team is playing. We put him in areas of the pitch where he can hurt opponents.
"Thankfully, he is a very humble boy. You only need to look at his work-rate, how he presses the ball and how hungry he is to get the ball back."