Having suffered at the hands of Luis Suarez in the Nou Camp, Brendan Rodgers is now trying to figure a way to suppress another of his Anfield alumni. With hindsight, the Celtic manager might not have been so effusive in the motivational message he sent Raheem Sterling over the summer.
It can be argued that Sterling has been the Manchester City player to benefit most from the appointment of Pep Guardiola and he will step out for this week’s Champions League clash at Celtic Park knowing he is the form man in a team full of superstars.
A £49 million Manuel Pellegrini purchase, Sterling endured a difficult first year at the Etihad and a miserable year was completed by his role in England’s Euro 2016 exit to Iceland.