Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is confident that Raheem Sterling will be able to follow in the footsteps of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sterling, who has been a constant positive during the Reds' indifferent start to the season, is likely to come up against the Portuguese attacker when the clubs meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.

While Rodgers believes that Ronaldo is a perfect role model for the England international, the Northern Irishman suggested that the 19-year-old has performed as well as when Ronaldo was teenager.

He told The Mirror: "I would argue that, at 19, Raheem has had a similar impact on the game to Ronaldo at the same age.

"Ronaldo came to this country as an 18-year-old with Manchester United and made an immediate impact. And in the last couple of years, I'd say that Raheem has made a similar impact at the beginning of his career.

"Now it's about Raheem going to the next level. The first part of the learning curve is getting into the team and establishing yourself as a player and earning respect. Raheem has done that – and now hopefully he will move on to the next level like Ronaldo did."

Sterling was part of the Liverpool side which lost 1-0 against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.