Goals flowing now Raheem has learned to be ruthless

RAHEEM STERLING has warned rivals he has never felt so ruthless – as Manchester City close in on a record winning streak.

The winger has scored 17 time this season and believes his game has changed to be more “efficient” in front of goal.

At Crystal Palace on Sunday City can equal Bayern Munich’s 19-game winning run – the longest recorded in Europe’s big five leagues.

It would also be their 12th league victory on the road, one more than the mark they currently share with Chelsea.

Asked if he was having his best season, Sterling replied: “Most definitely, in terms of goalscoring.

“I’ve probably had better seasons dribbling and stuff like that, but this is the most efficient I’ve been and that’s exactly what I want to do.

“There is no point dribbling if you’re not helping the team.

“Who wouldn’t enjoy scoring? Course I am. I’m always trying to score. It’s something I’ve always wanted to get better at. I’m just happy to bring that to pass and hopefully I can carry on.”

City’s 15-point lead has blown away title rivals and made the competition a procession, but the 23-year-old insists the players have put record-chasing out of their minds.

“I don’t think anyone is too focused on that,” said Sterling. “The most important thing is the three points.

“Once you win the game and the stats come up, that’s all well and good. But we can’t be thinking about that. We just have to have a single focus on getting the job done. If it happens, it happens but we have to go into games with a mentality to get the job done.

“Keep winning, that’s the biggest motivation you can have. The next games come so thick and fast, we have to try and keep that run going.

“All credit to the boys because once one game has finished, we look to the next.”

Sterling says he will always be grateful for the service he is getting from the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, who set up his winner at Newcastle (above).

“It’s a massive bonus to have a player like that. We also have Bernardo and David Silva who can see these passes. You just have to make runs and most of the time they will find you.”

Pep Guardiola hinted he is losing patience with club skipper Vincent Kompany, who went off with a calf strain against Newcastle. “We don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “Unfortunately he is injured again.”