Brendan: Benefits of a break for Sterling
The period of rest afforded to Raheem Sterling in 2015 so far can help to ensure maximum output from the Liverpool forward for the rest of the season, according to Brendan Rodgers.
Before his absence from Monday's FA Cup victory over AFC Wimbledon, the 20-year-old had started 13 consecutive games for the Reds - many in a central attacking role.
He was not part of the 18-man squad for the third round tie at Kingsmeadow, however, where a decisive double from captain Steven Gerrard set up a meeting with Bolton Wanderers.
Instead, Rodgers decided to hand the No.31 a breather, with long-term strategies moving into sharper focus for the benefit of both the team and the player himself.
"It was always my intention that around this period we would give him a rest," the manager told the Liverpool Echo. "It was just a case of selecting the right time to take him out.
"It had to be done. Raheem has shown in the most competitive league in the world he's one of the outstanding performers in it. But he has played a lot of minutes and as a young player it's important we look after him.
"If you focus just purely on the here and now, then of course you wouldn't want Raheem to miss anything. But he's a young player and you have got to look after the needs of the player and ultimately the team and the club.
"It was always in the plan. If we're going to maximise what we can get out of him then he needs that bit of recovery time. He has been outstanding for us in recent months.
"A period of rest and the recuperation will do him the world of good. It's been a gruelling first half of the season for him with a lot of matches and a lot of work. This is the break I had always planned to give him. It will set him up for the rest of the season."