Soccer

Ibe hoping to grab his chance after Sterling departure

Liverpool's Jordan Ibe hopes to capitalise on Raheem Sterling's departure to Manchester City
Liverpool's Jordan Ibe hopes to capitalise on Raheem Sterling's departure to Manchester City Liverpool's Jordan Ibe hopes to capitalise on Raheem Sterling's departure to Manchester City

Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe hopes to seize the opportunity the acrimonious transfer of Raheem Sterling appears to have offered him.

The 19-year-old has impressed on the club’s pre-season tour, which has now moved on to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and is likely to get more first-team chances after Sterling’s £49million departure to Manchester City.

be was recalled from a loan spell at Derby midway through last season and make an impact in most of the 14 appearances he made for Brendan Rodgers during the remainder of the campaign.

With Sterling now gone after a protracted transfer saga there is a spot to be filled and the former Wycombe player, who coincidentally shares the same birthday as Sterling but was born 12 months later, has his eyes on it.

“Football is about chances,” he said.

“Raheem is a great player but hopefully now I will get a chance to play and prove to the manager that I can play in the Premier League.”

Although Sterling has left the club after six months of wrangling over a new contract he remains a divisive figure among fans and Mario Balotelli’s tweet of support for the youngster he scored in a friendly for his new club provoked an angry response.

Folllowing criticism on social media the Italy international, who was not taken on the pre-season tour and is not part of manager Brendan Rodgers’ plans, wrote:

“Liverpool fans are amazing but I hopesterling31 will play at his best because he deserves it.

“Support him like you always did. He gave everything to this club and respect (sic) it so I’m sad to see this. YNWA, Liverpool is a family ALWAYS.”

A dreadful first season for Balotelli has convinced Rodgers the player has no future at Anfield and has sought to buy replacements, with one of those, Danny Ings, scoring in the 2-0 over Adelaide United.

“It was great to see Danny get his first goal,” Ibe added.

“I’ve been chatting with him and he’s been wanting to score. He’s a great player and I’m happy for him.

“He makes runs in behind, he’s very quick and you saw how well he played in the Premier League last season.

“With all of the new players coming in hopefully they can add a different style and bring goals to the team.”

Manager Brendan Rodgers is set to introduce another variation into the team’s style of play with the imminent arrival of Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

The Belgium international has undergone the second part of his medical in London ahead of a £32.5million deal and is set to be confirmed as the Reds’ seventh signing of the summer.

Sterling, meanwhile, scored less than three minutes into his Manchester City debut in a pre-season friendly in Australia yesterday.

The England forward, signed from Liverpool for £49million last week after an acrimonious transfer saga, found the net after just two minutes and 17 seconds against Roma at the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The goal contributed to an entertaining contest in the Australian section of the International Champions Cup, which City went on to win 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.

Sterling’s first touch in the game was inauspicious as he fell over the ball in the first minute but he more than made amends soon after.

The 20-year-old raced onto a clever chipped through-ball from the impressive Kelechi Iheanacho and coolly finished with a low shot. Roma replied with a long-range strike from Miralem Pjanic but Iheanacho, a highly-rated 18-year-old Nigerian, then struck himself when he pounced on a wayward Ashley Cole backpass.

The Italians levelled again three minutes from time with a well-struck Adem Ljajic free-kick but City took the honours as the game went to a shootout.

Aleksandar Kolarov missed for City but goalkeeper Joe Hart came to the rescue, saving from Seydou Doumbia and Seydou Keita and impressively smashing one in himself.