LIVERPOOL STARS SET TO VOTE STERLING AS PLAYER OF YEAR

RAHEEM STERLING’S bid to become PFA Footballer of the Year has been given a boost — by title rivals Liverpool. The Manchester City winger, 24, is thought to be in a two-horse race for the prize along with Anfield centre half Virgil van Dijk. Rules state that players cannot vote for candidates at their own club and traditionally that has led to tactical voting to ensure their man takes the prize. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admitted that when he was the club’s PFA representative in 2006 he asked team-mates to vote for anyone but Thierry Henry or Frank Lampard. The Arsenal and Chelsea men were rivals to Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, who won the award. However, a source has told Sportsmail that Sterling’s former Liverpool team-mates have taken a different tack and have ‘defied the unspoken whip’ to vote for the City man.