Liverpool pre-season tour: Raheem Sterling included in 30-man squad but Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini left out
Manchester City want to sign Sterling with the midfielder unhappy at Liverpool
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool have ignored Raheem Sterling's request not to be included in their squad for the pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East after naming the wantaway midfielder in their 30-man touring party.
The club released the full list of those included in the squad that will play games in Thailand, Australia and Malaysia in the coming weeks as they step up their preparations for the new Premier League season.
Led by new captain Jordan Henderson, five of their new signings will get their first run out in a Liverpool shirt, but attentions were quickly turned to the inclusion of Sterling despite the Manchester City target telling the club he does not want to be included.
Liverpool are currently considering their legal position should Sterling not show up when the squad flies out on Sunday, and with City primed to make a third bid of £40m plus £4m in add-ons, the club are prepared to place Sterling in the reserves in order to prevent him having a detrimental effect on the first-team.
James Milner, Nathanial Clyne, Joe Gomez, Adam Bogdan and Danny Ings are all included in the squad having completed transfer to the club during the summer, while new striker Divock Origi- who agreed to join the club last year but remained on loan at Lille – is also in line to make his Liverpool debut.
However, there is no Mario Balotelli in the squad as the Italian striker has been afforded compassionate leave following the tragic death of his foster father Francesco Balotelli. He returned to training last week, but has not been included in the list along with fellow striker Fabio Borini and the two have been linked with an Anfield exit this summer.
Liverpool face the Thai All Stars on Tuesday 14 July in Bangkok before flying on to Australia to play A-League sides Brisbane and Adelaide on Friday and Monday respectively, before wrapping up their tour with a match in Kuala Lumpur against a Malaysia XI.
The squad will also fly out to Finland on 1 August for a match against HJK Helsinki.
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