MANCHESTER CITY’S RAHEEM Sterling will be one of several players facing a former club when Liverpool head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but visiting manager Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of the reunion.
Sterling, 20, felt the ire of Liverpool’s supporters after rejecting a contract offer from the club at the end of last season and subsequently joined City in a deal that could be worth up to €69.8 million.
The England forward’s conduct was criticised by Liverpool greats including Steven Gerrard and Graeme Souness and he can expect a frosty reception from the away fans at the Etihad Stadium, but Klopp said it will be nothing that has not happened inside a football ground before.
“That’s football. It’s normal in football that former players play against their old club or whatever,” the German told his pre-game press conference. “It’s absolutely normal and nothing special. I don’t know how many friends Raheem had here or has here.
“He played here for a long time, had a good time here. I’ve heard no bad words about him. Good player, good boy, so (let’s be) friendly, shake hands, then it’s football.”
After a quiet start to his City career, Sterling has hit form in the last month, notably netting a neatly taken hat-trick against Bournemouth, and manager Manuel Pellegrini has been pleased by the pace of his adaptation.
“I always say that Raheem is a very young player. He must improve a lot and in important things,” said the Chilean. “It is important also he can demonstrate it in every game, but I am very happy with the way he is playing so far.”
