Robbie Fowler: Young players can step up and replace Raheem Sterling
Robbie Fowler has urged Liverpool's young stars to step up and show their worth following the departure of Raheem Sterling.
The England forward completed a move to Manchester City on Tuesday in a deal worth up to £49 million after a drawn-out transfer saga.
"Raheem Sterling is a very good player but ultimately it's his decision, he wanted to move elsewhere," Fowler said.
"As a club I think they have respected the player and it happens in football. It happened when we lost an unbelievable player in Luis Suarez and this year we've lost Raheem Sterling.
"It's up to the young players now to come through and maybe try and forget about Raheem Sterling and what he's done. Hopefully the new players will shine a little bit more."
Fowler's words were echoed by another Liverpool legend, Ian Rush.
"Raheem has gone now so we've got to look to the future," said the man who scored 346 goals for the Reds. "There are a lot of great players at Liverpool.
"We've got to concentrate on pre-season and the players we have."