The Reds winger is in fine form and believes he has overcome the early nerves that came with appearing alongside some of the Premier League’s finest

Raheem Sterling is “in the zone” at Liverpool having initially felt daunted by the prospect of training with Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

The winger has already matched his Premier League appearance tally from last season, making 24 top-flight outings for the Anfield club, including 17 starts.  

The 19-year-old is keen to stress that he has overcome the early nerves he experienced after stepping up to the first team and is now enjoying the best form of his career so far.

“When you train with players like Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, it’s a bit nerve-wracking at first but you get used to it and start expressing yourself,” he told the club’s official website.

“I’m in that zone now where I can express myself and come out of my shell. I’m really settled and happy to be in the team.”

Sterling also hailed the influence of manager Brendan Rodgers, who he feels has played a big part in his rise through the ranks.

“I’d say he has got me settled off the pitch and he’s made me realise that I’m here on merit because of what I’ve done in the youth team,” he added.

“He’s told me to do what I’ve been doing in the youth team and just be confident and get on the ball.”

Liverpool are currently four points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.

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Manchester City (13/10) may have grabbed the advantage in the title race after Chelsea (15/8) slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa at the weekend.

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The boss feels over-spending is unnecessary in football, insisting his more personal man-management style is just as effective as spending millions in the transfer market

Brendan Rodgers has taunted Liverpool’s big-spending title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, insisting the qualities his squad possess cannot be bought.

A 3-0 win at Old Trafford over Manchester United saw the Reds’ hopes of winning a first ever Premier League title increase on Saturday as the season’s surprise packages continue to impress.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City have spent upwards of £100 million over the course of the past two transfer windows, but Rodgers feels his more personal man-management style is proving money is not everything in the modern game.

“Clubs spend a billion quid and it does not guarantee anything. We will be in the market for good and top players, but there is more to it than that,” he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

“Once you put your ideas in place and once the players start to crack it, then we will have success. Money can’t buy that.

“It is about coaching and man-management and dealing with people. Having a great staff. Finding a cause for the players to fight for. All of that comes into it and that is something we have done in the period I have been here.”

Traditionally there is a direct correlation between success and a large wage bill, but with Liverpool boasting just the sixth-highest Rodgers feels over-spending is unnecessary – but insists his club are competitive in the transfer market.

“The players believe in it and the work has got them the rewards. You know when you’re employed by Liverpool it is not to sit in seventh,” he continued.

“You have to be up there and try to be the best. I’m not surprised by it. It’s a bit earlier than what I thought, maybe a year earlier, but I am not surprised.

“The money is great and we will be in the market to compete, but what is important is still having a vision of how you want the club to progress.”