Kenny Dalglish to go slow with Raheem Sterling

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has claimed that the club will not force the likes of Raheem Sterling into the first team.

The 17-year-old England youth international made his first-team debut as a substitute during the Reds' 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Despite reports claiming that Sterling is ready to jump ship at Anfield for another club, Dalglish believes that the club's approach needs to be "realistic".

"We need to have common sense and make sure we do a professional job on any of the kids coming in," Dalglish told the club's official website. "Anybody who comes here must have a chance of being a professional footballer, but he's got a much better chance if we face reality.

"We've got to be realistic with him. At the same time we've got to be appreciative and realise it doesn't matter what age they are if they're good enough.

"Every case is going to be different so we've got to look at them all individually and manage them, because we want them here for a long time."

The youngster made the switch to Merseyside from Queens Park Rangers in 2010.