Brendan Rodgers says there is no ill-feeling with Raheem Sterling

Rodgers and Sterling: Discussed the player's 'journey'

Brendan Rodgers insists there was no rift with "wonderful young kid" Raheem Sterling and says Liverpool should be proud of their part in his development.

Speaking at a press conference in Brisbane ahead of Liverpool’s next pre-season friendly, Rodgers revealed that he and Sterling had recently exchanged texts and that rumours of a rift between the two were false.  

“There were lots of reports about him and I not speaking, and falling out and that's never been further than the truth,” said Rodgers.

“This is a kid I put into the team at 17 years of age. A wonderful talent and from that point on, him and I worked together very closely. There was obviously stories going about towards the end but it's done with now.

“We were texting each other yesterday. Our communication is fine. We had a long chat about his journey before we left on the Sunday in the office. I thought by the time we got back he would probably be gone. He was a wonderful young kid for me.”

Rodgers handed Sterling his first competitive start at the beginning of the 2012/13 season. The Jamaican-born England international would go on to make 123 appearances and score 29 goals for the Reds.

“We can all hold our heads up high at Liverpool knowing that we put absolutely everything into him and his development,” said Rodgers.

“He came out of the youth team and became a fully-fledged international footballer.

“The supporters gave him all the support and nurtured him through. He decided to move on. Now he's a Manchester City player and we'll focus on the players we have here.”

Sterling is the third high-profile departure from Anfield in the last two seasons, leading some to question the club’s ability to attract and retain top-quality players.

“Players are always going to be wanting to come to Liverpool,” said Rodgers.

“It's such an iconic club. In the modern game and with the market now players will move on. Unfortunately, it's something you have to accept. You have to fight.

“As long as you do everything you possibly can to keep the player, that's all you can ever do. If the player moves on you thank him for his contribution and look to develop and improve the next player that comes in.

“You can't deny the size of Liverpool as a football club. The challenge for us is to get it back among the top clubs in this division.”

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Milner in the middle for Reds

James Milner (c) is looking forward to a central role with Liverpool

James Milner says he has discussed with Brendan Rodgers what role he will play at Liverpool, insisting he contributes most when employed in a central position.

Milner joined Liverpool on a free transfer this summer after five years at Manchester City where he was unable to find a settled regular position in the side.

But he looks set to enjoy a central role in Rodgers’ starting line-up and the 29-year-old insists he is more than capable of handling the pressure and responsibility of being a Liverpool player.

He said: “I spoke to the manager before I signed about his plans for me and I think playing in the middle is my best position and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in for Liverpool.

“I think when it comes to football nobody puts more pressure on myself than me. You’re out there and you try and perform every day in training and for the club. As soon as you step over that white line that’s all you’re thinking of and I want to perform my best.

“I’m my own biggest critic, my family are the same and my parents are the same and they want me to do well. I have been fortunate enough to play for a lot of top clubs in my career and with that comes pressure and that’s what you want.

 “You want to be playing at the top level, with and against the best players.

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Liverpool trigger Benteke release clause

Christian Benteke: Liverpool trigger Aston Villa striker's release clause

Liverpool have triggered the £32.5million release clause in Christian Benteke's Aston Villa contract.

It was reported on Thursday morning that Manchester United were ready to capitalise on Liverpool's reluctance to meet Villa's asking price for Benteke by making their own move, but Brendan Rodgers' side have now given into the Midlanders' demands.

Benteke is now free to discuss personal terms with the Reds and will become their second most expensive signing, behind Andy Carroll, should the transfer go ahead.

Benteke scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for Villa over the past three seasons, including six goals in 12 matches at the end of last campaign to help Tim Sherwood's side to safety.

Liverpool have already bought James Milner, Danny Ings, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez, Adam Bogdan and Roberto Firmino this summer, with the Benteke deal set to take their spending to around the £80million mark.

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Clyne 'intrigued' by Rodgers promise

Nathaniel Clyne: Swapped Southampton for Liverpool

Nathaniel Clyne says he was convinced to join Liverpool after being told by Brendan Rodgers that he could improve him as a player at Anfield.

Clyne broke into the England team last season due to his exploits with Southampton, but the 24-year-old is confident he has made the right choice in joining the Reds.

"It just seemed right for me to join Liverpool with the gaffer telling me there's a spot here for a young right-back like me who is looking to push on in my career," Clyne told the Guardian.

"He said he could work with me and make me into a better right-back so, yes, I was intrigued and I've been told how great this club is. You can see with the team and the quality that we have got, that we could push on and have a special season.

"Liverpool showed the most interest and I'm the kind of player that I want to go somewhere where I am really wanted and I felt that here."

Clyne, meanwhile, is confident there is no lasting upset after he appeared to snub England manager Roy Hodgson at the end of the Euro 2016 qualifying win over Slovenia last month when he headed straight for the tunnel.

Hodgson said at the time: "We think Nathaniel Clyne is a very good player but I would be disappointed if anyone thought that, on the basis of a good season with their clubs, they can walk in and demand a place."

Asked about Hodgson's reaction, Clyne said:" I haven't noticed anything. I thought I just went in with the rest of them, so I'm not sure. Yes, I was disappointed but I don't think I showed any lack of respect or anything.

"Obviously I was disappointed not to play for the international team. It's just made me more hungry to play, to push for it and try and get in the team. I feel like I'm good enough and that I should be playing, so yeah I was disappointed but football's football and hopefully when the next game comes around I will get the call-up and get some game time.

"They do say once you are playing for a big club you get more of a look-in for the international team but when I was playing at Southampton I was getting a look-in.

So, if I can just play as well as I was then, hopefully I can nail my spot as an international."

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Tough owners may have axed boss - Allen

Brendan Rodgers: Survived owners' inquest at Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen admits less patient owners may have sacked Brendan Rodgers after the club's sixth-placed finish last season.

Rodgers' assistant Colin Pascoe and coach Mike Marsh were both relieved of their duties by FSG last month after Liverpool relinquished their place in the Champions League after just one season.

Rodgers survived the inquest, but Allen admits he too could have paid the price for the Reds' failure under different owners. The 25-year-old, however, insists it's the players, rather than the manager, that were to blame.

"Yeah, of course, some owners may have been less tolerant after the way the season went. But the players we've got here are all honest players who take responsibility," said Allen.

"At the end of the day, we were the ones who let the supporters, the manager and the staff down - and ourselves down as well. It's as simple as that.

"So it's up to us to get back out there and get back to the levels we know we can reach."

Liverpool started last season slowly under Rodgers before putting together a good run of form through the mid part of the season only to suffer another collapse in the closing stages.

A 6-1 defeat at Stoke represented a humiliating end to the season for the Reds, and Allen admits the summer break has dragged as a result.

"The start of last season was disappointing for us," he said.

"We didn't start the way we would have liked. We turned it around at one point and had a good run from December through to March but in the last two months we dropped off again.

"To allow the standards and the levels to drop like that was what hurt the most.

"And when you end on a low like we did at Stoke, it's a really long summer. But thankfully we're back in now and everyone wants to set the record straight.

"It's no point looking back - last season is the past. It takes a while to get over disappointments like that, but our mentality now is to look forward.

"There's a lot of work to be done between now and the start of the season. It's been tough so far, which you'd expect.

"It is different with the new coaches on the staff and there have been changes to what we do - new faces will always bring that. But everyone is enjoying the sessions. Players and staff alike have been putting in the effort to ensure we start this season well.

"After last season, though, the players we've got here don't need extra motivation when they go out and wear the shirt. I wouldn't say there's added incentive after what happened at the end of last season, but we certainly want to make sure we hit the ground running this time around.

"That's why it was great to get back out there in Bangkok, having not played for a while. There was a good atmosphere for a pre-season game and everyone got 45 minutes, which is going to help us."

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Lyon want 'at least' £35m for Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette: Will cost at least £35m

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has said star striker and Arsenal and Liverpool target Alexandre Lacazette will cost clubs 'at least' £35million.

Despite having previously been ruled out of the running by Aulas himself, reports on Wednesday claimed Liverpool would look to spend the £49million they received from the sale of Raheem Sterling to fund a move for Lacazette.

The French striker scored 27 goals in Ligue 1 last season, with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo out-performing him across Europe's top five leagues.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have also been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old, while, outside of the Premier League, Barcelona and Real Madrid are monitoring his situation.

While club president Aulas has insisted he is "not worried" over the future of his prized possession, he admitted some offers would be impossible to refuse.

"Of course, if a €50-60m (£35-42m) bid was tabled, I will no doubt have to prepare for his exit and wish him good luck," he told French newspaper L'Equipe.

"I really feel like he wants to stay," he continued.

Lacazette is apparently stalling on accepting a new contract at the Ligue 1 club, while the striker himself admitted "you never know what will happen" in regards to his future back in March.

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