Sterling: Reds won't alter style at Ataturk
Raheem Sterling insists Liverpool will not adapt their approach when they walk out into a cauldron of noise at the Ataturk Stadium tomorrow night.
The 20-year-old intends to play his part in helping the Reds move beyond Besiktas and into the last 16 of the Europa League when the sides clash in Istanbul.
Mario Balotelli's coolly converted penalty at Anfield last week means Brendan Rodgers' charges possess a slender advantage heading into the second leg of the tie.
A trip to the Ataturk, where the club won their fifth European Cup by beating AC Milan on penalties 10 years ago, now looms on the horizon for the Reds.
Besiktas currently sit second in the Turkish Super Lig and will have the vociferous backing of their supporters as they look to overturn Liverpool's lead - but Sterling insists that won't affect his side's mentality.
"I think it's going to be a really difficult game," he told reporters gathered in the Turkish capital to preview tomorrow's 6pm GMT kick-off.
"Coming away to play in Turkey, it's going to be difficult and we know that. We've got to stick to our gameplan that the manager has set out for us. That's no different for tomorrow night.
"We'll be trying to play possession football and try to play really attacking football at the same time. I think it should be a really good game and hopefully we can just play the football that we know we can play."
When Liverpool last won at the Ataturk, on perhaps the most glorious night in the club's history in May 2005, Sterling was just 10 years of age.
Back then, almost two-thirds of the ground was festooned with Liverpool banners and flags - but tomorrow, it will be a different story altogether as the Besiktas faithful take control.
"The support in Turkey looks incredible," said Sterling. "It's going to be a really exciting game - for me personally as well, as I've always wanted to play in Turkey and see what the fans are like.
"Everyone says how amazing they are. People say: "You might get intimidated". But I think the fans at Anfield are quite intimidating [to the opposition] as well. So I don't think it will be too different. But I'm really excited to play in Turkey."
Liverpool head into the fixture in good form, having defeated Southampton 2-0 at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday in a game where Sterling struck the second to seal an important win on the south coast.
"It's always nice to get on the scoresheet in the previous game, going into your next game," admitted the forward. "But I'm totally focused on trying to do my best tomorrow for the team and hopefully we can come away with a win."