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| Brendan Rodgers expects Raheem Sterling to see out Liverpool contract | Brendan Rodgers expects Raheem Sterling to see out Liverpool contract |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Brendan Rodgers has said he expects Raheem Sterling to continue to play for Liverpool for the final two years of his contract, despite the furore surrounding the England winger’s future. | Brendan Rodgers has said he expects Raheem Sterling to continue to play for Liverpool for the final two years of his contract, despite the furore surrounding the England winger’s future. |
| Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, was quoted on Thursday as saying that his client would not sign a new contact at Liverpool “for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week”, with the comments prompting the club to cancel planned contract talks that were due to take place on Friday. However, Rodgers insists there has been no breakdown in relationship between him and Sterling. | Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, was quoted on Thursday as saying that his client would not sign a new contact at Liverpool “for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week”, with the comments prompting the club to cancel planned contract talks that were due to take place on Friday. However, Rodgers insists there has been no breakdown in relationship between him and Sterling. |
| Related: Arsène Wenger suggests Arsenal would not be put off Raheem Sterling by agent row | |
| “Raheem has two years left and I expect him to see that two years through and continue to behave as immaculately as he has done,” Rodgers said. “We want to resolve the situation but it doesn’t change my approach to him. There is no problem there,” he added. | “Raheem has two years left and I expect him to see that two years through and continue to behave as immaculately as he has done,” Rodgers said. “We want to resolve the situation but it doesn’t change my approach to him. There is no problem there,” he added. |
| With 25 months left on Sterling’s current deal, worth 35,000-a-week, Liverpool seem prepared to play hard ball in the knowledge the player stands to lose up to £12m in earnings if he sticks to his agent’s promise not to sign a new deal. | With 25 months left on Sterling’s current deal, worth 35,000-a-week, Liverpool seem prepared to play hard ball in the knowledge the player stands to lose up to £12m in earnings if he sticks to his agent’s promise not to sign a new deal. |
| Rodgers also said he had confidence in the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, to make the right decision over Sterling’s future. | Rodgers also said he had confidence in the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, to make the right decision over Sterling’s future. |
| Related: Golden goal: Steven Gerrard for Liverpool v Milan (2005 Champions League final) | Scott Murray | |
| “They took over a club a number of years ago that was in a really critical situation and they have done an incredible job to stabilise the club and point it in the right direction,” he said. “At every opportunity when they have had to show that strength - whether it be with a player or other elements of the club - they have done that. In this situation they will show that power and strength again.” | “They took over a club a number of years ago that was in a really critical situation and they have done an incredible job to stabilise the club and point it in the right direction,” he said. “At every opportunity when they have had to show that strength - whether it be with a player or other elements of the club - they have done that. In this situation they will show that power and strength again.” |
| Rodgers confirmed that Sterling is fit and available for Liverpool’s trip to Stoke on Sunday but admitted that Mario Balotelli is a doubt. | Rodgers confirmed that Sterling is fit and available for Liverpool’s trip to Stoke on Sunday but admitted that Mario Balotelli is a doubt. |