Sterling Relishing City's Three-Peat Challenge

Raheem Sterling says it will be even harder for Man City to retain their Premier League title this season but is up for the challenge. The Citizens edged out Liverpool by just a single point to retain the top-flight crown last term in one of the most high-quality title races in Premier League history, with the Reds having to settle for second despite accruing 97 points.

City face Liverpool in the Community Shield next week before beginning their quest for a third successive Premier League title at West Ham on August 10, and Sterling expects his old club to keep the pressure on this term. Sterling said: “It’ll be harder than last season. To do this three times in a row is a massive challenge for us. It’s a challenge we’re definitely up for.

“We’re getting our work in now, getting our fitness up, and we’ll be ready for the Community Shield against Liverpool. We want to be up and ready.” England forward Sterling left Liverpool for City in acrimonious circumstances in 2015 in order to further his career, going on to win five major trophies at the Etihad Stadium. Despite having amassed a large collection of winners’ medals, the 24-year-old is missing a Champions League title from his haul.

Sterling says he was happy to see Liverpool win the top prize in European football last season, claiming he harbours no ill will towards his old club, but says the Premier League remains his and City’s top priority. “I was really happy for them, happy for some of the players I know to lift the Champions League,” he said. “The Champions League is massive for us as a club but our most important thing is winning the Premier League.

That’s our main objective going into this season. “Yes, it’d be nice to win the Champions League, but first and foremost we want to win the league. “The Premier League is your bread and butter, every weekend, what you train for every day. The Champions League is the nicer looking one, the most prestigious as people say, but every weekend you put in a shift, you’re going to tough places. You’re off to Crystal Palace, Burnley. It’s tough. You put so much time into it.”