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Raheem Sterling is back where his Liverpool FC journey began.

Sat in the players’ lounge at the Kirkby Academy, the teenager gazes up at the artwork which acts as inspiration for the current crop of youngsters looking to follow in his footsteps and make the grade at Anfield.

Sterling’s name adorns the wall these days with his shirt positioned between those belonging to two bona fide Kop legends in Robbie Fowler and Steven Gerrard.

It’s a reminder of just how far he has come since he was snapped up from Queens Park Rangers at the age of 15 for an initial fee of £500,000 in 2010.

He said: “When I first walked in I was like ‘what’s that doing up there?’ I couldn’t stop staring at it. Obviously it is nice to see things like that.

“There are some great names on display there and it is a bit of surprise to see my name among them.

“The time has gone so quickly. A lot of the stuff at the Academy has changed since I was last here. It has been a real quick journey and hopefully it can be an even better one in the future.”

Further along the wall are the names of McManaman, Carragher, Mellor and Callaghan.

On the other side of the room: Ablett, Thompson, Owen, Case, Flanagan, Heighway and Marsh.

Players who all made the sizeable leap from Liverpool’s youth ranks to Melwood and flourished.

Most dedicated the best years of their career to the Reds and won a host of honours.

Sterling wants to join that club.

See photos from the Liverpool during a training session at Melwood on Friday

Talks over a lucrative new contract are ongoing but the 19-year-old has dismissed speculation linking him with a move elsewhere.

“Hopefully I can achieve the goals I want to achieve here at Liverpool in years to come,” he said.

“I am happy to be here for as long as possible like the big names that are on that wall. I am just happy to play football at this football club for many years to come.

“The club has spoken to my representatives about a new contract and hopefully something can be done really soon.”

Sterling was back at Kirkby, along with the entire first-team squad and Liverpool Ladies players, to educate and encourage the club’s Academy youngsters.

It was about reinforcing the ‘one-club mentality’ Brendan Rodgers prides himself on. And who better than Sterling to pass on advice?

The Jamaica-born winger, who helped out during a training session with the U16s, has enjoyed a meteoric rise.

The raw wide man, who burst on to the scene against Wigan in March 2012, is now a mainstay for both club and country.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing.

A year ago Rodgers publicly warned him he needed to “stabilise his life” as off-field distractions hampered his progress on it.

He responded by knuckling down, winning his place back and playing a prominent role in the Reds’ gutsy title challenge.

Sterling then provided one of the few positives from England’s miserable World Cup campaign before making a flying start to this season with three goals in his first five matches.

Still a teenager, he’s closing in on 100 appearances for the Reds at an age when most are still desperately trying to break through.

“I remember I was training hard at the Academy and the manager gave me an opportunity and I would like to think that I have taken that opportunity,” he said.

“Hopefully it can be an example to the other kids here now that this is a manager who does give you a chance to train with the first team and play games. He has shown that on numerous occasions.

“If I could see myself two years ago I would just say listen to the advice the people around you – particularly the manager – are giving you. Stay focused on playing football only and lead a professional lifestyle from the word go.

“Try to get better every day, not just in playing, but in everything. That was probably my slight weakness in that I was not leading the lifestyle I should have been off the pitch – not resting when I should have been, stuff like that.

“That is something I have brought in with maturity, having that rest period I should have.

“I wasn’t in the team at the start of last season but I knew I could develop and really turn things around. That was my big moment – being on the bench. That time out really helped me.”

It was his place on the bench which sparked a torrent of criticism while he was on England duty last month.

When Roy Hodgson wrongly claimed that Sterling had asked to “sit out” the Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia, the youngster was unfairly castigated for turning his back on his country.

In reality, the player had merely responded to a question from England coach Gary Neville during training by admitting that he felt some tiredness in his legs.

But the damage was done and Rodgers was left to pick up the pieces as Sterling returned to Melwood devastated by the fallout.

“It was pretty difficult,” Sterling said. “I tried to not really watch TV much or listen to things. If I saw on TV that a conversation was about me then I would turn over.

“It was the first time I had to deal with anything like that but I felt I dealt with it really well. The main thing I have learnt is to just shut off.

“I was always on my phone and things would just pop up and you could not go past it without having a look, but now I have learned to block it all out.

“I just do my best on the pitch for Liverpool and England. I love playing football for club or country.

“If anything I said got taken the wrong way I am sorry about that but I am always happy to play football.”

Getting to grips with the pressure and scrutiny of being one of the great hopes of his generation isn’t easy.

Liverpool, stuck in a rut on the back of three successive defeats, will be looking to Sterling to help provide the attacking verve required to kick-start their flagging season when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park Sunday afternoon.

A lot rests on his young shoulders, especially with Daniel Sturridge out until the New Year following his latest injury setback.

But Sterling embraces that responsibility and is confident the Reds will soon get back on track.

“As a young player it is difficult to sometimes impose yourself on games but it is something that I am learning to do and something I need to deal with if I want to get to the level I feel I can reach,” he added.

“It is something I need to accept and hopefully I can cope with it. There is pressure but I try not to think about it too much and just concentrate on your own game and enjoy my football.

“Even in our last game against Chelsea, I thought it was a game that could have turned our season around.

"I thought we played well at times and we just need that one result and one good team performance to kick us on.

"Then I think the confidence will be right back up there. Hopefully it will be at Palace.”