Sterling can handle the Anfield boos, says Pellegrini

Manchester City laid claim to their first piece of silverware this season on Sunday, winning the Capital One Cup final on penalties against Liverpool.

We can’t make any mistakes anymore in the Premier League.

“He is a young man and a young player – just starting his career”, said Pellegrini.

“On the other side I can say absolutely nothing negative about SM – he’s a really good boy, big personality and since I’ve been here he has to handle a lot of pressure”.

The Blues will be meeting Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday and this will the first time Raheem Sterling will visit the ground as a Manchester City player.

“I know it’s a very important game for them and it’s a very important game for us, so it’s not that the game is not too important, it’s about thinking ‘Can I bring in another [player] that is 100 per cent fit?'”

Pellegrini has argued, though, that the fans at Anfield have no more cause to heckle Sterling than their City counterparts have to boo James Milner, who left the club to join Liverpool on a free transfer last summer.

There are still 36 points to play for in the Premier League, which is a lot of games. “I’m happy for Caballero as I think he deserved his moment in the spotlight and I’m happy to win a title in February”. It’s not always a game, it’s a hard session and we have to say “okay, stop now”.

I think that this is one where maybe the Odds makers are underestimating Manchester City.

Forward Adam Lallana, one of the players to miss in the shoot-out, believes that now has to be their motivation. City won over the Reds via penalties, but such was not the real story for folks who were able to catch the match.

“I don’t know what the starting XI will be”.

Manuel Pellegrini [on PL title]: “The complete squad are confident they can win the title, especially as they have the experience”. Liverpool have also won their last two home games against the Citizens.

“The Europa League can save the season and the Premier League is not over yet”. A win would close the gap to six points with the Foxes and taken them in third place as they will replace Arsenal courtesy of a superior goal-difference. “If we can do it sooner, that is better, but while we have chances, we’ll continue”.