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Rodgers determined to fend off Madrid's Sterling interest

Raheem Sterling has been in impressive form for Liverpool this season, but suffered a slight dip against Middlesbrough © Getty Images

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he is confident he can see off interest in Raheem Sterling from Real Madrid.

The teenager has impressed for both Liverpool and England this season, prompting suggestions that the Spanish giants may come in with an offer.

Sterling has a contract with Liverpool until 2017, which he signed in December 2012, and Rodgers says there is no rush to extend it.

Asked for his reaction to reports of Real's interest, Rodgers said: "I think it shows that he's playing exceptionally well. You could probably link Raheem with every club in the world at the moment. He's a fantastic young talent.

"I've nothing really to add to it. There's lots of speculation every day about players coming and going here at Liverpool.

"I sit easy with it. He's a wonderful boy who is developing very well here. He and his representatives - and people close to Raheem - know how comfortable he is here.

"I'm sure at some point in the future that whatever contract we're looking to work to with Raheem will be sorted. But he's still got three years left, and there's no rush from my perspective at the moment."

Sterling had a mixed night on Tuesday, playing the full 120 minutes as Liverpool beat Middlesbrough 14-13 on penalties in the Capital One Cup after a 2-2 draw.

Although the forward was on the winning side, it was his wayward pass that led to the move from which Middlesbrough won a late extra-time penalty to take the match to a shoot-out.

Sterling was then the only one of the 22 players involved in the shoot-out not to score, as he was unsuccessful with the penalty that would have taken Liverpool through after five kicks.

But despite those exertions, Rodgers has no worries about the 19-year-old being ready for Saturday's Premier League clash with neighbours Everton - having rested him for the 1-0 home defeat against Aston Villa on September 13.

"We gave him a breather against Aston Villa because we knew he was going to be important for a number of our games coming up," Rodgers said. "The Capital One Cup is an important competition for us. We want to do well in it, and he's a very important player for us.

"He's a super-fit boy. He trains, he works away every day. I think you can see his fitness is at a high level, and he'll be relishing the game at the weekend."

Rodgers, meanwhile, has confirmed that talks are ongoing with Spanish forward Suso over a new deal.

The 20-year-old, who is in the final year of his current contract, scored against Middlesbrough on Tuesday as he made his first appearance of the season as a substitute.

Suso spent the last campaign on loan at Almeria, helping them to avoid relegation from La Liga by one point, and is looking to secure his future on Merseyside.

"You saw his impact the other night," Rodgers said. "I was really pleased with him. It's been difficult. He was out on loan for a year. We sent him out to get games and experience.

"His representatives are in the middle of contract talks at the moment.

"He's a young boy who has come in and worked hard in pre-season, but he hasn't had a lot of game time.

"That's been difficult for him, I'm sure, but he's never shown it. He's shown the same appetite in training.

"You saw his quality when he came into the game the other night and the space opened up - and even at times when it was tight.

"He's got wonderful feet, wonderful technique, and it was nice to see him score with his right foot."

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