The agent of Raheem Sterling has stated that the winger has made a step up by swapping Liverpool for Manchester City.

Sterling made a move away from Anfield to join City during the summer under acrimonious circumstances and the talented attacker is now set to receive a hostile reception from the travelling Liverpool supporters when the Reds make the trip to Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Ahead of the clash, Sterling's agent Aidy Ward has touched on his client's transfer to City and has stated that the 20-year-old's decision to agitate for a move away from Liverpool has since been justified.

Ward said: "Raheem is in a good place. He is playing with better players for a manager, who gives him the freedom to express himself, and he is improving as a player in a team that is at the top of the Premier League and in the Champions League.

"He has gone up a tier. Manuel Pellegrini has played him in a wide role with the freedom to drift inside and he has also played as a central striker.

"That's why he scored the first hat-trick of his professional career recently (against Bournemouth) – all of the goals coming in the first half.

"At Liverpool, Raheem was asked to play as a full-back, just like Emre Can was asked to play as a central defender when he is a midfielder. That wasn't going to help him develop as a player.

"Moving to City was right for Raheem, even if Liverpool fans don't want to accept that.

"At City, he now has a licence to thrill."