Liverpool's Raheem Sterling could answer England manager Roy Hodgson's prayers in time for Brazil Since then, however, he has largely been excellent on the right side of Liverpool's attack. It was the same story on Sunday in this absolute thriller at Stoke. Starting the game brightly, a skilful first touch took him inside Erik Pieters, a move which set the precedent for the left-back's difficult afternoon. Following that, Sterling's chipped pass, intended for Jordan Henderson, bounced into the path of Aly Cissokho whose wayward shot was deflected in. That contribution proved the launch pad for a terrific first half noticeable for the way Sterling fulfilled the role of the only man left up when Liverpool defended set pieces. Many entrusted with this job cannot do it properly. When the ball gets cleared, poor positioning often allows the defender to get there first. Sterling, however, showed an encouraging appreciation of what is required. More than once, Liverpool hooked the ball upfield to find their man reacting the quickest. Using his strength - and he is surprisingly strong for a small lad - the teenager nudged Marc Wilson under the ball on one occasion and carried it forward before squaring to Philippe Coutinho who nearly scored. Having burst on to the scene last season, Sterling suffered the kind of dip most youngsters do. He did not start this campaign particularly well either. There was a feeling inside the club that his private life was not right, with something always going on to serve as a distraction. Brendan Rodgers has therefore had to be patient with the Jamaica-born prospect brought from Queens Park Rangers four years ago. The manager has also had to work on Sterling's movement - those out-to-in runs, the well-timed dashes behind defenders. When executed properly, they make a player like this so much more dangerous. Pleasingly, the lad has cottoned on to the point that he has now become much more of a goal threat. Four goals have been accompanied by several more misses, highlighting the fact Sterling is getting into much better areas than previously. That was certainly the case as the match at Stoke wore on. In anticipating Wilson's pass, Sterling, admittedly, did use his arm to knock the ball forward. But having got away with that one, he then attacked the defender to win a penalty. To many in the ground, the winger went down too easily. For me, it was a foul Sterling exploited to the full. Booed relentlessly from that moment on, he kept going regardless and showed good strength once again to hold off his man and jab the ball sideways for Luis Suárez to set up Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool's fifth. All in all, then, another outstanding display from someone becoming increasingly central to Liverpool's progress. Good news for Rodgers and perhaps also for Hodgson. If he carries on like this, Sterling can soften the blow of Walcott's loss. I wonder if Jose Mourinho might change his mind about David Luiz. The Chelsea manager insists he regards Luiz as a central defender and only plays him in midfield when injuries bite. Yet the Brazilian looked a class act once again in the win at Hull. His long-range passing gives the team something extra from that area. It is vital that players know who is boss, that one voice sounds the loudest. René Meulensteen is trying to shake off the perception of being a better coach than manager at a club that has just recruited Alan Curbishley and Ray Wilkins. Fulham's 4-1 home defeat to Sunderland helps nobody's cause, particularly a man trying to exert his authority. Anyone feeling sorry for themselves in the top flight, spare a thought for Hyde, marooned on four points at the foot of the Skrill Premier. This lot have lost 25 of their 29 games, drawing the other four. 1-0 up at Southport on Saturday, a 78th minute equaliser denied them glory. Keep going boys. That first win is coming. And so the table begins to take shape. Should Arsenal win at Aston Villa on Monday night, they join Chelsea and Manchester City in a mini league at the top. As for the other end, well, that looks a rather bigger affair. Any three of 10 teams could end up in the Championship. As suspected, this is turning into a season with very few rivals.