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Lazar Markovic insists the £20million price tag won’t weigh heavily on his shoulders as the Liverpool FC new boy vowed: “I’m here to win the title.”

The 20-year-old winger, who was snapped up from Benfica when the Reds triggered his release clause, is hoping to make his debut against Manchester City on Monday after recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered during the pre-season tour of America.

Boss Brendan Rodgers described Markovic as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe and the Serbian is confident he can live up to that billing.

“I’m not afraid of challenges,” he said.

“It was the same when they took me on trial at Partizan (Belgrade), when the Benfica offer arrived and when Liverpool signalled that they wanted me in their ranks.

“I believe in myself and in the luck that’s following me. I believe in the people in charge of my career. That is why I go with my dreams.

“I’m not the most expensive signing of the summer but even if I were I wouldn’t care much about that.

“I’ve never thought about anything in relation to money. I’ve never cared about or done anything for money in my personal or my professional life.

“What does it even mean to be more expensive than others? It absolutely doesn’t matter. The pitch, not the money, is the measure of everyone’s worth in football.

“I believe Liverpool fans expect a lot from me, and to be honest I expect a lot from myself. The same applies for the people who worked hard to bring me here.

“I do not have any fear or stage fright whatsoever. To tell you the truth, I can’t wait to start playing for Liverpool.”

Markovic, who will wear the No 50 shirt for the Reds, maybe young but he already boasts an impressive medal collection,

His four seasons as a professional have all ended with a title triumph.

He won three championships with Partizan in his homeland before moving to Portugal and helping Benfica celebrate a domestic treble and reach the final of the Europa League last term.

Markovic is keen to continue that winning streak by helping Liverpool end their long wait for a 19th top-flight crown.

“The competition is fierce but I did not come to Anfield to fight for sixth or seventh place,” he said. “Liverpool and our fans deserve the return of the most important trophy. I would love to be a part of the generation that brings this trophy back to Liverpool.

“With the Premier League and the Champions League, we’ll be going for it on both fronts. There are a lot of reasons for optimism. This club is very ambitious.”

Markovic, whose preferred role is wide left, says he benefited greatly from his time in Portugal. And now he’s looking forward to developing further under the guidance of Rodgers.

“The season spent in Benfica helped me mature, become more serious, physically stronger and improve my tactical knowledge,” Markovic told Serbian magazine Mozzart Sport.

“As long as I live I will be thankful to the coach, his assistants, my team-mates, all the physios and doctors, the president of the club, the board members, and every single fan for making me the player that I am today.

“I was still a little child when my parents explained to me that smart people work on themselves and learn as long as they live.

“I believe that Mr Rodgers will help me to become even better, just like he did with other young players. We’ll see where the coach will put me because I can play many positions and for every one of them there is great competition. I will give it my all.”

Markovic says settling into his new surroundings has been made easier by the support of skipper Steven Gerrard.

“When we say Liverpool most of us think of Steven Gerrard, and that’s not only the case with us who were born in the Nineties,” he added.

“He is a legend, an icon, the king of the club. Yet still he is completely natural and normal.

“We all listen to him and treat him with the utmost respect. He welcomed me like a true captain and a great gentleman, just like he did with all the other new guys.”