Steven Gerrard Tips "Frightening" Raheem Sterling for World Cup Place

Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has assured Raheem Sterling a World Cup place should his impressive form continue for the remainder of the season.

The 19 year old has enjoyed a sensational run of form of late and has scored six goals and made three assists this season, including netting a double in the recent 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal.

With Arsenal's Theo Walcott ruled out for the rest of season and the World Cup finals in Brazil, England manager Roy Hodgson has a difficult decision to make regarding the wide births in his 23-man squad.

Adam Johnson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have enjoyed a recent return to form, but none have eclipsed Sterling's showings for Liverpool and his club captain Gerrard says the ex-Queens Park Rangers youngster need only discover some consistency to secure his place in Brazil this summer.

"Raheem has been in great form over the last couple of months and I'm sure Roy is watching him very closely," said the Liverpool skipper.

"The Arsenal game was an unbelievable performance from a guy of that age. I was just disappointed that he didn't go on and get his hat-trick.

"His form of late has been sensational and if he continues that until the end of the season, we will see him at the World Cup."

"I said to him before we played Everton, 'put yourself in the full-back's position - what doesn't he want? He doesn't want you to keep running at him'," Gerrard added.

"Raheem was relentless that night. He kept going and going. He gave the Everton full-backs a torrid afternoon and he did it to Arsenal.

"Now he has to do it every week and get that consistency in his game. If he gets that consistency, he is going to be a frightening talent."

Already a full England international, Sterling is among the most prestigious talents to emerge in the game in recent years and would travel to South America this summer as something of an unknown quantity.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has already tipped Sterling to go to the World Cup, while Hodgson admitted earlier this week that the youngster is in his thinking ahead of the summer.