Sterling has been in the news for rejecting a new £100,000 a week contract and scored the first goal as Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0 last night to move back within four points of Manchester City.

Speaking ahead of the game, the much sought after 20 year-old said the Merseyside giants still harbour hopes of catching either Arsenal or one of the Manchester clubs.

“Anything can happen and it can be a really good week for Liverpool.

“It [the top four] is probably a bit harder than it was a few weeks ago. We were really close to it, but this is football and anything can happen.”

Liverpool are four points behind Manchester City, with Arsenal and Manchester United a further four and five points ahead respectively. With just six games to play, time is running out for Liverpool.

“The teams in front of us could drop points and we can win games – that’s football and is probably the best thing about the Premier League.”

Without Champions League football, Sterling’s head is likely to be turned in the summer.

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Liverpool’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling gestures during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 13, 2015. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

In an interview with the BBC just a fortnight ago the England international admitted rumours linking him to Arsenal were “quite flattering” , and his current club are becoming increasingly frustrated by his contract situation.

Sterling has more recently insisted he only wants to be loved by Liverpool fans.

Speaking to the Sunday Times magazine the versatile forward said:

“When the crowd is with you, there is nothing better,

“My ambition is to have my own song from the Kop.”

Whether or not that really is his ambition remains to be seen. A few media faux pas have left him with many fans not on his side.

Maybe his ambition is to play elsewhere next year.

It’s certain that his ambition is to compete at the highest level, regardless of whether or not he has to leave Anfield to do so.