Raheem Sterling will be the man Manchester United fear more than anyone going into the derby.
But the Manchester City leading goalscorer admits that his focus has not always been entirely on his game.
The Blues ace has moved up to world-class level under Pep Guardiola, and that is as much about changing his mentality off the field as it has the coach’s development of his game on it.
Sterling’s penchant for a party used to earn him more headlines in the front half of newspapers than it did on the back.
But he says he has grown up, settling down to family life, as well as taking on the responsibility of being an important voice in the fight against racism in the game.
Sterling has also become a consummate goalscorer for City after it was initially a weak part of his game.
Asked what had changed for him, Sterling said: “It’s all about mentality. Mentality, maturity and growing up. I think now I’m living for football.
“I’m obsessed with football, obsessed with scoring goals, obsessed with recovering quicker, and obsessed with improving myself.
“You have every facility here so you have to use it to the best of your advantage to try and be the best you can be.
“I was decisive but I wasn’t 100 per cent committed. I wasn’t 100 per cent living the way I should be living to be a professional footballer, and which would give me an edge on a match day. I realised that and changed it.
“You see the improvements on the pitch and so that’s why you continue to do it, because you see how you feel on the field and what your output is. You look at what your numbers are doing.
“It’s a good thing and as a professional you have to learn, take it in your stride and keep learning. That’s all I do.”
Sterling has racked up 15 goals this season, as well as four for England, putting him on course to beat last seasons career-best total of 25.
He will be hoping to add to that tomorrow to both get one over on their city rivals United and to keep runaway leaders Liverpool within sight.
“We just need to keep winning games and hope they (Liverpool) lose some! It’s as simple as that,” says Sterling.
“They’re playing some good football at the moment, but it’s a long season. We have got to keep winning, keep believing.
“Football is a funny game and in one moment it can change. You have to be ready. At the moment, they’re leading and we just have to keep working and keep winning.”
