Sterling: These are tests we must pass

Some of the continent's leading newspapers selected the 20-year-old as the finest young player of 2014 yesterday, an acknowledgement that ranked the Reds' No.31 alongside a host of illustrious former winners.

Reacting to the news, Sterling displayed humility and gratitude. This was an accolade earned through hard work, he explained with quiet steel, and one that can be a step in the continual improvement he craves.

That is why the versatile forward - a scorer of five goals so far this season, including a brace at Bournemouth in midweek - is relishing the prospect of testing his prodigious credentials against the Gunners.

Yes, the carrot of closing the gap to Sunday's visitors in the Barclays Premier League with three points is the priority. But reinforcing Brendan Rodgers' side's big-game capability is too, says Sterling.

"You want to win every game but in games such as Arsenal, you always want to come out on top because these are the games that really test where you are at," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"Everybody will be right up for it, like we were against Manchester United. We didn't get the result there, but we'll definitely be trying to get the result against Arsenal.

"It would be another confidence boost for the team. If we start really well on Sunday, knowing how we can play and playing the football we know we can play, we have definitely got a chance of winning."

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Arsene Wenger last brought his team from the capital to L4 in February, on a day when one of the Premier League's traditional crunch clashes was effectively settled - emphatically - within 20 minutes.

A blistering opening by the Reds demolished the Londoners' gameplan, with Sterling sending home the third of four goals for the hosts before the first period had even reached its halfway point.

He added his second and Liverpool's fifth shortly after the interval. The final score of 5-1 resonated around the country and provided Rodgers' charges with the belief to win 10 more consecutive league ties henceforth.

Sterling recalled: "It was possibly one of the best games I've been involved in. It's always great to play against Arsenal and to beat them in such good fashion, playing really good football at times.

"It showed the heights we were at last season. Hopefully this time around we can get on the front foot straight from the off like we did last year and get the win again this season.

"Our confidence is on its way back to where it should be and hopefully we can get out there with a quick start. We'll try to do the best we can do and we know that doing our best can definitely win us the game."

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Then, the Englishman was operating in a wide position in Rodgers' system. For the past week, however, the manager has tasked his young talent with a different role and altered requirements.

Sterling was the side's focal point in attack against Manchester United at Old Trafford seven days ago and caused significant problems for the opposition, only to be repeatedly denied by goalkeeper David De Gea at the pivotal moment.

But his finishing senses were much sharper from the same spot on Wednesday as he inspired a 3-1 Capital One Cup victory over high-flying Championship outfit Bournemouth with a pair of faultless conversions.

Asked for his take on the tactical switch, that selflessness again comes to the fore: "I'm happy to play anywhere the manager puts me, I'll do my best. It's no different.

"I'll keep working hard, running and trying to close things down, and always trying to create an attacking option for the team. It's a position that is quite fun to play in and I'll be learning every time I play in that position.

"It's good to have it in your game to be able to adapt to a different position. I'm more than happy to do a job anywhere across the front line and get at defences.

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"The manager put out a formation that he thought could create quite a lot of chances. Against Manchester United we created a few clear goalscoring opportunities and we just didn't finish them.

"We created a lot of chances again against Bournemouth and could have had a few more as well. But this time we did take our chances and won the game.

"The manager made it clear to us that we need to start probing more, it seemed like we were attacking all out or nothing in the previous games.

"We wanted to get them running and feel the ball, trying to probe as much as possible in their half. We did that really well at times against Bournemouth. It's a credit to the boys that everyone was showing for the ball and wanted to get on the ball and create."

Five points separate the Reds and Arsenal in the division before kick-off today, with Kopites preparing to gather at Anfield and hoping to witness an early Christmas present unfold out on the pitch.

One thing those supporters can bank on is the desire of Sterling, who is adopting the kind of mentality that allows his bundles of natural ability to thrive.

"Hopefully I can contribute for the team as much as possible," he added. "I'm not putting too much pressure on myself, I'm enjoying football and hopefully I can help the team as much as I can."