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Cape Town - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he is worried about the possibility of Raheem Sterling being burnt out ahead of another round of international fixtures.
The 19-year-old has become a key cog for both the Reds and Roy Hodgson's England squad and has already featured in all eight of the Three Lions' matches so far in 2014.
Liverpool are also back in the Champions League this season, adding even more matches to their roster, and leaving Rodgers concerned that one of his star performers could be over-used too early in the campaign.
"We certainly have to be aware of it [over-playing Sterling]," Rodgers said.
"It’s easy just to turn around and say ‘he is 19 and can play every day of the week’. But it doesn’t work like that.
"There will be periods when they need to rest. And, of course, when you give them the rest because you are planning ahead, you get accused of picking the wrong team.
"He is a big talent."
"The key is to try and nurture it, while also understanding the best players want to play in the games. And he will certainly have enough games this season."
Sterling is expected to play from the off when Liverpool face FC Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday, while the Merseysiders are again in action against West Brom in the Premier League at the weekend before another international break comes into play for the next round of 2016 European Championship qualifiers.
