Rodgers shows who's boss at Liverpool

During filming for Fox Soccer documentary Being: Liverpool, Carnlough man Rodgers was captured on camera coolly putting the 17-year-old winger in his place when he overstepped the mark.

Having been given the chance to make the big step up from academy level to the first team, Sterling could perhaps be forgiven for getting a little cocky.

But Rodgers was quick to knock that on the head, stressing the importance of having the right attitude to go with the talent to succeed.

Sterling's cheeky little response to the gaffer's words of wisdom during a coaching session was met with a stern look and the warning that even one of the club's bright hopes for the future could soon find himself on "the first plane home".

I want to make the philosophy through the club that allows us to bring players from the academy into the first team. We want to develop top young players.

Brendan Rodgers

The coaching session in question was filmed weeks before Sterling's impressive performance against defending league champions Manchester City though - and it seems he took the warning to heart.

Swift as Rodgers was to keep him in line, he was just as quick to heap due praise on the Kingston-born player following what was his first league start for the senior Liverpool side.

"For a 17-year-old, playing against the champions, I thought his performance was fantastic," Rodgers said during his post-match press conference.

And he's since elaborated on the attributes Sterling brings to the side.

"He takes on a lot of the concepts and he is very good with instructions. Normally wingers want to do their own thing, but he is tactically improving every day," Rodgers said.

"I am certain over the next few years that he will develop into a very good footballer. We just have to make sure that we keep the pressure off him."

After taking up the reins at Liverpool, Rodgers insisted bringing stability to the club was a priority and he's keen to see the club develop more talent for the first team through the youth academy.

"Young players will run through a barbed wire fence for you," he said.

"Older players will look for the hole or just turn back and not even go through it. But you get that freshness from Raheem. I like exciting players as well and he is a boy that excites you."