Raheem Sterling in Jamaica for 'period of rest'

Raheem Sterling likely watched Liverpool's 1-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday from a beach in Jamaica.

Manager Brendan Rodgers admitted Friday that Sterling, who has registered more minutes than any Liverpool player this Premier League season with the exception of Jordan Henderson, is in his birthplace enjoying some recovery time following a hectic slate of fixtures.

"If you focus on the here and now then of course you wouldn't want Raheem to miss anything," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "But he's a young player and you have got to look after the needs of the player and ultimately the team and the club.

"It was always in the plan. If we're going to maximize what we can get out of him then he needs that bit of recovery time. He has been outstanding for us in recent months. A period of rest and the recuperation will do him the world of good. It's been a gruelling first half of the season for him with a lot of matches and a lot of work.

"This is the break I had always planned to give him. It will set him up for rest of the season."

Sterling came under heavy criticism in October when he asked England manager Roy Hodgson to be rested ahead of the national team's Euro 2016 qualifier versus Estonia, in which he featured as a substitute after replacing Jordan Henderson in the 64th minute.

Matters then became worse when reports surfaced that he had visited a nightclub upon returning to England that same day.

Although the BBC reports that Sterling will return to training next week ahead of Liverpool's match against Aston Villa, there will surely be some supporters who aren't thrilled to hear that the 20-year-old is enjoying a vacation abroad when their club is competing for a Champions League berth.

However, it looks like Sterling is enjoying himself in Jamaica: