Brendan Rodgers hopeful that Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling will return next week

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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers discusses Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling…

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has moved to reassure supporters that Steven Gerrard’s half-time withdrawal against Sunderland was purely precautionary, and has also added that Raheem Sterling will be back next week.

Lazar Markovic scored the only goal as the Reds beat the Black Cats 1-0 on Saturday, but their skipper had to be taken off at the break, when he was replaced by Dejan Lovren.

“It was just precautionary,” said Rodgers, who was quoted by the Daily Express. “He’ll have a scan on his hamstring. It just felt a little bit tight, so we’ll just need to manage that and see how it is.”

In addition, Rodgers explained the continued absence of Sterling, who was also left out of Monday’s FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon. The 20-year-old forward is enjoying an extended winter break in Jamaica, after featuring in 32 games during the first-half of the campaign.

“Raheem will be back next week. It’s something that was already planned from the summer,” he said. “In my time here, in two and a half years, he’s come from the youth team through to becoming a full international player and one of the best young players in European football.

“There’s a lot asked of him and if I was selfish I would maybe have him here with me for every single minute because he’s been brilliant, but I need to think of the kid and the long-term for Liverpool and for him.

“I felt after the Christmas period, because he’s played a lot for me – he’s played over 100 games already as a kid and he’s just turned 20 – it would be a good period for him to have a rest.”

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