RAHEEM’S ROLLERCOASTER FULL OF HIGHS AND LOWS
MAR 2014 — The young starlet was just 20 when he earned his second England cap, being named man of the match against Denmark; a few weeks later he was named Liverpool’s Young Player of the Year.
APR 2015 — A month after scoring his first England goal he was criticised by Brendan Rodgers after being pictured in a national newspaper smoking a hash pipe.
MAY 2015 — Booed by Liverpool fans after winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award because of an increasingly protracted contract row.
JUN 2015 — Slated by Steven Gerrard for pulling out of Liverpool’s pre-seson tour of Asia — he claimed he was ill but it was seen as a signal that he was on his way out of Anfield. JUL 2015 — A bitter six-month contract dispute ended with Sterling joining Manchester City for £49million. JUN 2016 — Endured a horrific Euro 2016, booed mercilessly by fans and hauled off after an hour of England’s horror loss to Iceland.
MAY 2018 — Days after winning a first Premier League winner’s medal, was pilloried for the gun tattoo on his leg which he insisted was simply a reference to his late father. JUL 2018 — Earned some plaudits at the World Cup helping Gareth Southgate’s men to fourth place.
OCT 2018 — Ended a 27-game run without an international goal by scoring twice against Spain in 3-2 win in the Nations League. FEB 2019 — Scored the winning penalty as City beat Chelsea at Wembley to win the League Cup final.
MAR 2019 — Scored his first international hat-trick in a 5-0 win against Czech Republic.