Rodgers on Raheem Sterling future

A couple of weeks ago you told us about talks of Raheem's contract, that they were on hold at the request of the player and his advisors. What's your view now on Raheem bringing the subject of his future back into the public domain?

The concentration, like I said a few weeks back, certainly for me is to purely focus on his football and help him continue with his development at a place where he has made great strides over the last couple of years. For me, that is the only concentration over these remaining games through to the end of the season. I said last time we sat down, that was the intention of the player and his representatives and also the club - to put it on hold. Obviously, Raheem has come out and made his feelings clear on that. Hopefully now the focus will be very much on the football.

The fact that he has said he is flattered by interest from Arsenal and said it is not about money, it is about winning things - does that not detract from what you're trying to do?

No, it absolutely aligns everything in terms of what we're trying to achieve here. If Raheem is saying that his ambition is to win trophies and be successful, then it's perfectly aligned with what we're looking to do. Arsenal is a fantastic football club, of course, but this is Liverpool and this is one of the great clubs of the football world. For Raheem to be playing here is an honour for him, to play here at a club like Liverpool in front of our great supporters. And he understands that and sees that. I think what he's saying overall is that he's got two-and-a-half years left on his contract, he is quite relaxed - as much as I am - about the situation and between now and the end of the season he just wants to really focus on that.

Are you disappointed, though, that this has reared up once again? When you see these kinds of headlines being made by players, does it disappoint you when you have tried to put it all away and to bed?

As I said, I'm quite relaxed on it. I think it's part of the modern game now; people who look after players and represent players will have different ways of working. I've seen that in all my years in football and different experiences. The focus is purely on the football. Raheem has now been involved with the first team for two-and-a-half years and in that the player he is today - and he has still got a lot of improvements to make - is because of the environment and what we've created here. He has still got learning and development to make, on the pitch and off the field. We feel here is a great place for him. I'm quite relaxed; there are two-and-a-half years to go on his deal and he's not going anywhere in the summer. We'll very much focus on trying to make him the best player that we can.

You say Raheem is not going anywhere in the summer. Does money not always talk in these situations?

We as a club have shown that not to be the case. Liverpool is one of the superpowers of football and the owners have made it clear - and we've seen it before - that the money doesn't come into it. So if the club isn't going to sell and doesn't want to sell, it won't sell. It's as simple as that. Money has never been the objective here for the club. If any player ever left here, whether it was Raheem or whatever player, it would always be on the terms of the football club. But that's a long way off, it's not the case. For us, it's really about continuing the nurture and development of a young player who has made huge strides and someone who we believe we still have a lot of input into his development to come, so he can consistently be a player playing at the very top of his game.

He's saying this stand-off isn't about the money and isn't about wages. Aren't contracts always about the money to some extent?

For Raheem it's purely about the football, and I know that because I speak often enough with him. And he's made it clear, especially recently, that he's very happy here in his football. I think what the kid is trying to do is just put off all talk of him being all about contracts, all about money. He is a boy who genuinely loves his football; he's played all over the field for me, but he understands and respects that the opportunity he has had to play all over the field has been great for him and his career. I think that's all he wants to do, concentrate on his football. And anything other than that, he has always left to his representatives to look after. So for now, the focus will hopefully be on the football. He still has two-and-a-bit years left of his deal, so it's not something we're overly concerned on and I'm confident that between now and the end of the season and hopefully at the end of the season we'll find the solution to that.