Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers believes Raheem Sterling's excellent last season is inspiring other Anfield youngsters during the Merseyside pre-season.

After Kristoffer Peterson scored his first senior goal for Liverpool following an assist from Jordon Ibe during their 2-1 defeat against Brondby on Wednesday, the young winger reproduced his good form against Preston North.

The 19-year old prodigy led Rodgers' side to their first pre-season victory, scoring in their 2-1 win – with Spanish Suso netted the other in a sensational shot.

Rodgers has heaped praise on the winger and urged him to keep working hard in order to follow Sterling's footsteps into the first team.

"The young players at Liverpool know they're going to get a chance. They've seen Raheem progress from a youngster, and that gives them all hope," Rodgers said to Liverpool official website.

"They know that if they do well and show the personality and commitment to play for Liverpool [they'll get a chance] - and they're here because they have quality.

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"For example, young Kristoffer Peterson has come in and got two goals. I said to him, 'You'll now come to America on the back of what you've done in your training'. That's what I always judge players on. I look at them to see if they work well, work hard and work with quality, and if they have the personality to play for Liverpool.

"He's been rewarded for that, he'll come to America and hopefully he can continue scoring goals, which is great for him," said the Liverpool manager.

"I'm really pleased with the players, how hard they've been working and their fitness levels up to this point. A lot of the players played an hour, which was very, very good for them.

"I'm particularly pleased with the young players that came on and the intensity of their play. They know the structure of how we play, the dominance of the ball and I thought when they came on for that last half hour, it lifted the game. They showed quality and we ended up getting two goals. It was very pleasing."

Liverpool FC