Raheem Sterling says Liverpool are determined not to be distracted by any off-field gamesmanship in the buildup to Sunday's potential title decider against Chelsea.

Liverpool warmed up for their 3-2 win at Norwich City last Sunday bolstered by the knowledge that Sunderland had beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a day earlier.

Sterling scored twice at Carrow Road where he also created another goal for Luis Suárez and was hailed as "the best young player in Europe" by his manager, Brendan Rodgers.

All in all it was a good weekend for the 19-year-old winger and an ideal springboard for Chelsea's visit to Anfield on Sunday. With Liverpool now five points clear at the top of the Premier League, Rodgers is almost within touching distance of guiding them to their first title in 24 years and the tension seems palpable.

"We're just working for each other and fighting for our lives," said Sterling. "We're taking it step by step. We'll just go into the Chelsea game and try and do what we did against Norwich. We go again next week.

"Before Norwich Brendan Rodgers told us to make sure a result like Chelsea's [against Sunderland] never happened to us. Everyone in our changing room is really up for it. This is a really big part of the season and we will just go in against Chelsea ready to fight again."

He added: "We'll just take it as another game. We won't concentrate too much on what's happening outside as we just want to take care of what's going on on the pitch. We want to get three more points. We come in every day, we see each other and we know what the dream is. We're keeping each other modest. If we keep working hard, there is a real goal at the end of it. We just have to keep our head down, keep working hard and concentrate. Everyone is working hard to bring the dream home."

José Mourinho's mood was darkened by Fabio Borini's winning penalty for Sunderland. Borini, of course, is on loan from Liverpool. "Everyone was buzzing for him in the hotel when we found out," said Sterling whose own season has been transformed by faith.

This involves both the belief Rodgers has shown in him as well as assistance from "the man upstairs". Before the game Sterling "asked for guidance" and received it. "That is what I got from the man above," he said. "I had to get down on my knees and tell him thanks very much."

And Rodgers, the manager he ran to after scoring? "He has had belief in me, he's put me in different positions and had the faith to try me there. I knew I had a lot to give but now I have confidence and, right now, it's sky high."

Rodgers' "we go again" mantra is perhaps a way of keeping Sterling and company grounded. "Yeah, we don't need to get too excited," he agreed. "So we 'go again'. That's all we'll keep doing until the end and hopefully we can do the business."