Raheem Sterling has admitted he would consider a Liverpool return nearly five years on from his acrimonious move to Manchester City.

Rafa Benitez signed Sterling from Queens Park Rangers as a 15-year-old in 2010 for around £500,000, and the winger eventually made his first-team debut at Anfield in March 2012 under Sir Kenny Dalglish.

It was under Brendan Rodgers where Sterling really thrived at Liverpool, however, with the attacker emerging as one of the brightest young players in the Premier League during the 2013/14 campaign.

His form throughout that season was enough to earn him a place at the 2014 World Cup with England, but as the Reds began to lose their way under Rodgers, Sterling grew disgruntled.

He eventually left for City in controversial circumstances in the summer of 2015, with the Citizens striking a £49million deal with the Reds.

Sterling refused to travel on a pre-season tour of the Far East before his big-money move was forced through in July 2015.

His exit has always ensured him a frosty reception upon his returns to Anfield, but the City star has admitted he still thinks highly of the club who helped him become an international star.

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In a Q&A session on the Instagram account of his agency, Colossal Sports Management, Sterling was asked directly if he would ever consider a Liverpool return one day.

He said: "Would I ever go back to Liverpool? To be honest with you I love Liverpool.

"Don’t get it twisted, they are always in my heart. It’s a team that has done a lot for me growing up so…"

The revelation comes amid the backdrop of Manchester City potentially being expelled from the Champions League for the next two seasons.

Last month, UEFA took the decision to suspend the current Premier League champions from the next two European Cup campaigns for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

City have have lodged an appeal to the ban with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and are awaiting a decision from the CAS.