Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign against Ludogorets on Tuesday and Rodgers decided to rest Sterling for the visit of Aston Villa this evening.
Rodgers said: “We’ve got some very, very good players here and he has come off the back of two tough international games and working very hard.
“Obviously, I’ve got to plan for the games going forward so, as I said, he is a 19-year-old boy and he is a wonderful talent.
“Whether he is playing or on the bench, he’ll make a good impact for us.”
New signings Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic were both handed their debuts and Rodgers added: “They’ll fit in, there’s no question about that.
“Both players have come from systems and philosophies that are similar in terms of the way we play. That was key for us.”
Written by Steve Milne
