Owen: Fresh Sterling can be the difference
Michael Owen believes Raheem Sterling will return reinvigorated after his recent break in order to help steer Liverpool through a hectic period of fixtures over the coming weeks.
Owen's own blistering pace carried him to 158 goals during his Reds career - and the former striker believes Sterling's searing speed can help propel the youngster to great heights.
The No.31 is expected to come back into the Reds' squad for the trip to face Aston Villa on Saturday, after being afforded time off by manager Brendan Rodgers, missing the wins against AFC Wimbledon and Sunderland.
A fresh Sterling, operating at the peak of his powers will be key to success during the second half of the season, according to Owen, who is backing the forward to return with a flourish this weekend.
"The whole point of giving him the break, halfway through the season, was to preserve him and to keep him fresh and lively because it's going to be a big end to the season," Owen told Liverpoolfc.com.
"Liverpool are competing in virtually every competition and there's going to be loads of games to be played, so I think Brendan Rodgers needs a fresh team going into those games.
"No-one needs to be fresher than Raheem Sterling. Just the very fact of how he plays with his explosive speed. It takes far more out of a player when you have that speed.
"Big exertions take plenty out of you and he probably needed a break. Brendan has done the right thing in giving him a break at some point. Fortunately, results have gone for Liverpool in the meantime. They have not missed him too much."
Since Liverpool's trip to face Manchester United in mid-December and prior to the England international's recent break, Sterling had operated as a central attacking figure for Liverpool, flanked by two playmakers.
The new position yielded a brace of goals against AFC Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup, a match-winning intervention against Burnley on Boxing Day, as well as a string of impressive displays leading the Reds' line.
"I think he's still got more to come, I really do," said Owen, when asked about Sterling's forthcoming return. "I think in the future he'll probably revert back to one of the wider positions or the No.10 role in behind a No.9.
"I think that would be his best position. I really like him when he's running at players and facing the goal, as opposed to playing with his back to goal as a No.9.
"He's done the job really well. I think he can go on to be a real world-class player. He's got one or two bits of his game that he still needs to improve, but he's got so much going for him.
"If you're looking around at the Liverpool team at the moment, he's certainly one of the shining lights that Liverpool have to protect for the future."