Raheem Sterling is resolute he would have travelled to the Far East on Liverpool'spre-season tour, previous to a phone call from Brendan Rodgers informing him Liverpool career was over.
Sterling was driving into training on the morning of July 12, when then boss Rodgers told him they had accepted a bid from Manchester City and he would be leaving Anfield. |
| End of an era: Rodgers told Sterling over the phone Liverpool had accepted an offer |
"Okay, come into training but you're not coming on tour; we've accepted a bid," the Northern Irishman replied, after months of uncertainty following an acrimonious contract stand-off between the player and the Reds hierarchy.
Sterling had missed two days of training through illness earlier that week, with critics suggesting it was part of a ploy to force through a move to the Etihad prior to the start of the season.
Raheem Sterling is adamant he would have travelled to the Far East on Liverpool's pre-season tour, before a phone call from Brendan Rodgers telling him his Liverpool career was over.
Sterling was driving into training on the morning of July 12, when then boss Rodgers told him they had accepted a bid from Manchester City and he would be leaving Anfield.
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| In the goals: Sterling has enjoyed a fruitful start to his City career |
Sterling and his representatives felt that was a plan to force him into signing a fresh deal with the Reds, and was ultimately the beginning of the end.
The England man comes up against his former employers for the first time this evening, when Jurgen Klopp's side travel to the Etihad.
He is sure to be in for a rough reception from travelling Reds, who roundly booed him at the final game of last season at Stoke, which signalled the final straw of his Anfield career.
