Raheem Sterling is out to score more goals - but may need to have a word with Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane first.
The Manchester City forward has improved his output in front of goal significantly over the last two years, shaking off potential competition to become one of the main threats in Pep Guardiola's team.
His two goals in the FA Cup final saw him finish with 25 goals for the season - a personal best - and the England international is keen to keep adding to his tally. As he steps up his responsibility both on and off the pitch, Sterling has identified penalties as an easy way to up his numbers.
Sterling smashed home the decisive penalty against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final in February but missed one in the quarter-final against Leicester and will face stiff competition to take them in the City team; Aguero is the normal taker, while Guardiola selected Riyad Mahrez to take a crucial spotkick at Anfield much to Gabriel Jesus's dismay.
“There’s no point being in a field, just to be another number. You’ve got to try to aim to be the best in what you do. If it’s not the best player in the world, then at least the best player in my position,” he said in a wide-ranging interview for the Financial Times .
“For me, there’s more responsibilities that I want to take on - in terms of being the penalty-taker, little things like this that get you extra goals.
“It’s only a matter of time till I do those things. As long as I keep doing the right work, and have the same mindset, I will get there."
