Gerrard tells Sterling: Be a man about Liverpool exit

The winger, who wants to join Manchester City, missed the first two days of pre-season training, citing illness, and told the club he does not want to go on their tour

 Steven Gerrard has told Raheem Sterling "to be a man" about wanting to leave Liverpool after the player missed the first two days of pre-season preparations.

The winger, who does not want to take part in the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, is a target for Manchester City after telling Brendan Rodgers of his desire to leave Anfield this summer.

Liverpool began their preparations for the new campaign on Wednesday without Sterling, who informed the club he was unable to attend due to illness and repeated that claim on Thursday.
"I'm not happy with all that carry-on and I don't think there's any need for it. They all need to be men about the situation," Gerrard told Sky Sports.

"Raheem needs to go in and speak to the owners and to Brendan [Rodgers] himself, tell them what he wants and go about it that way. You don't have to throw illnesses in and refuse to go on tour.

"There are millions and millions of Liverpool fans around the world who are itching to see Raheem Sterling in a Liverpool kit. So I don't think it's fair on them if he is behaving like that."

The 20-year-old's agent, Aidy Ward, has claimed all trust between his client and Rodgers has evaporated over the long-running transfer saga

Meanwhile, Gerrard is in line to make his LA Galaxy debut against Club America on Saturday.
, while Liverpool are set to fly out to Bangkok on Sunday.