Raheem Sterling reveals personal target that forced him to quit Liverpool

Raheem Sterling left Anfield for Manchester City in 2015 for £49m as he became the most-expensive English player ever.

The England international has won two Premier League titles since quitting Liverpool for Etihad stadium four years ago. 

Raheem Sterling admits his desire to taste Premier League success forced him to leave the Reds.

The 24-year-old just rejected a huge offer from Liverpool to move to Manchester City and he faced huge criticism from Liverpool fans after completing the move.

This decision has ultimately been justified though after playing a significant role in Manchester City's back-to-back Premier League title triumphs. 

And he admits his hunger for success was behind his decision to walk away from Liverpool.

In an interview with GQ magazine , in which Sterling is the cover star for August, the ex-Liverpool forward said: "When I got into Liverpool I said if I haven’t won the Premier League by the time I’m 21, I need to look at my options and see what I’m doing there.”

"I put that into place from a young age. And I came to City and won my first Premier League. It’s just good to know what I’ve set out to do - what we’ve set out as a team to do - is going as planned."

Sterling always faced negative critics from the press earlier in his career with many believing he made the move to City for money and not for success

"There was a point when I left Liverpool I actually thought, “Why should this little black kid have this money?” He added

"That’s at one point how I felt, the stories that were coming out...Why should he?”

Last season, City edged out Liverpool narrowly and boss Pep Guardiola is expecting another tough challenge from red part of Merseyside next season.

Speaking on his boss,Sterling added: "“He has challenged me, never let me be comfortable. Every year he has bought a new winger.

"So for me it’s like, “Cool. OK. I’ve done OK.” And now, the last season, he’s just got another one.”

“He’s demanding, but it’s good. It makes you want to do better and - I don’t know how to explain this - makes you want to prove to him and show him every time you go on the field you’re playing for your position in his team, because of the numbers we have and the quality we have as well.”