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Where are they now? The Liverpool team from Raheem Sterling’s full debut

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling is currently public enemy number one among Liverpool supporters after his scrap with Joe Gomez. 

However, it’s easy to forget that Sterling was once Liverpool’s golden boy after progressing through the academy and starring for the first-team.

Sterling made his first start for the club against Hearts in August 2012 in a Europa League qualifying match, and it’s fair to say he’s exceeded the achievements of some of the other youngsters to turn out for the Reds that day.

Pepe Reina

After being replaced by Simon Mignolet, Reina spent a year on loan at Napoli before joining Bayern Munich in 2014. However, he didn’t make his debut for Bayern until March and left after one season.

The goalkeeper then returned to Napoli for a three-year spell where he was accused of having an association with people with links to the mafia. Yes, really.

Following an investigation, Reina was eventually cleared by a sports tribunal before joining AC Milan in 2018.

Pepe-Reina-Liverpool

READ: Remembering when Pepe Reina played as a midfielder for Liverpool

Martin Kelly

Kelly had been on the books at Liverpool since the age of seven, and he would go on to make 62 appearances for his boyhood club.

However, he struggled to establish himself in the first team so signed for Crystal Palace in 2014 and has become a regular in their defence.

Jamie Carragher

This would prove to be Carragher’s last season at Liverpool as the legendary defender announced his retirement in 2013.

He then joined Sky Sports as a pundit, where he has developed a brilliant on-screen bromance with former enemy Gary Neville.

Daniel Agger

Agger spent eight years at Liverpool but rejoined his previous club Brøndby IF in 2014 after admitting that he was no longer able to cope with the demands of Premier League football.

The defender continued to be hampered by injuries, and he announced his retirement at the age of 31 due to an over-reliance on anti-inflammatories.

Away from football, Agger currently owns a tattoo parlour, a bar and an investment company – oh, and he is also the chairman of a sewer company in Denmark!

Jack Robinson (Stewart Downing, 61)

Robinson was tipped for a bright future at Anfield, but he made just 11 senior appearances for the club before joining QPR in 2014.

“The opportunity was there, but it was just limited game time,” he told us. “I just couldn’t get a run of games in the team.

“When I played, I did well. But it’s Liverpool and the standard is so high. You have to keep bringing that every week.”

The defender had an injury-hit beginning to his Rangers career, but he eventually cemented his place in the team before joining Nottingham Forest in 2018.

After spells with West Ham and Middlesbrough, Downing joined Blackburn Rovers on a one-year deal in the summer.

READ: Jack Robinson on leaving Liverpool, Suarez, Sterling and life at QPR

Jordan Henderson

Henderson is the only player on this list that is still at Liverpool, and he has become a key part of their success under Jurgen Klopp.

The midfielder became club captain in 2015 following the departure of Steven Gerrard, and he skippered Liverpool to victory in the 2019 Champions League Final.

Charlie Adam

As Sterling was making his first start for Liverpool, Adam was making his last start for the club, signing for Stoke City a week later.

The midfielder made 178 appearances for the Potters before joining Reading in 2019, but his time at Stoke is best remembered for that goal against Chelsea.

Jay Spearing (Joe Allen, 67)

Spearing came through the academy at Liverpool, but he failed to make the grade at Anfield and joined Bolton on a permanent deal in 2013.

“I don’t have one regret,” he told the Times of his time at Anfield. “I played in every competition for the club and I did everything I had ever dreamt of doing. I will always look back and think, ‘What a time that was.'”

The 30-year-old is now club captain at Blackpool in League One, and he recently completed his coaching badges.

Despite being named in the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament, Liverpool decided to sell Allen to Stoke City, and he is still with the Potters.

Jonjo Shelvey

Shelvey wasn’t able to get regular game time at Liverpool so signed for Swansea in 2013 before joining Newcastle United three years later.

However, the midfielder has struggled with inconsistency and has also developed a reputation as a hothead due to his awful disciplinary record.

Fabio Borini (Adam Morgan, 90)

Borini was Brendan Rodgers’ first signing at Liverpool but had scored just three goals for the club before joining Sunderland on a permanent deal in 2015. After scoring twice in 2016-17, he then completed a surprise move to Serie A giants AC Milan in 2017.

The goal-shy Italian has played in seven different positions at Milan, but he has spent this season on the bench and has recently been linked with a move back to the Premier League.

Morgan was dubbed the next Robbie Fowler, but he was never able to establish himself at Anfield and departed for Yeovil Town in 2013. The striker has spent most of his career in the lower leagues and recently signed for Widnes.

Raheem Sterling

Sterling made an acrimonious exit and moved to Manchester City in 2015, but Liverpool fans certainly haven’t forgiven the 24-year-old.

However, the winger has since won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup at City, where he has developed into one of the best players in the world.

He probably won’t be squaring up to Joe Gomez again anytime soon though.


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Jack Robinson on leaving Liverpool, Suarez, Sterling and life at QPR