Liverpool finally agreed to sell Sterling to their Premier League rivals on Sunday in a £49m deal that will see the player earn £200,000-a-week at the Etihad over five years.
Sterling, 20, was left out of the Reds’ travelling party to Bangkok as the deal drew closer to completion and is expected to undergo a medical at City in the next 24 hours.
Reports last week claimed one reason for Sterling wanting to leave Anfield was a gradual decline in his relationship with Rodgers.
But the Liverpool manager denied there has been any fall out and held talks with the England international before he departed for Thailand.
Rodgers, speaking for the first time in Bangkok, said: “The situation is currently very simple. The club has agreed with another club a deal for Raheem to be transferred and subject to medical that will go through.
GETTY
Raheem Sterling is set to complete a £49million switch to Manchester City
“Contrary to the last week or so in terms of what was written, Raheem and I have stayed very strong in our relationship and have been right up until we left. So there is no issue there.
“I spoke to Raheem at length before I left yesterday. There is no issue, there is no problem and I said the two clubs have agreed a deal and subject to a medical he will move on.
“At this moment in time the interest in the players that are here.”
Liverpool arrive in Bangkok without Sterling
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Rodgers now believes it is up to the current crop of players to come together to ensure Liverpool can improve on last season’s sixth-place finish in the Premier League without one of English football’s top prospects.
He said: “The key for us is the overall team that is important.
“Individuals like Raheem would have benefitted from the team.
“We obviously need the team to be stronger and more competitive than we were last season but that will be reliant on everyone.
“We have started the pre-season in this first week, the camp has been strong, the focus has been hard and we just want to continue that way and take that confidence into the beginning of the season.”
GETTY
Brendan Rodgers insists he has not fallen out with Sterling
Brazil ace Roberto Firmino is one player who has been earmarked as a man who can fill the void left by the departing Sterling.
Liverpool sources insist the attacking midfielder was not brought in as a replacement for Sterling.
And Rodgers warned that the £29m signing from Hoffenheim will take time to acclimatise to the Premier League.
“He is a top class player and played in Europe in a very good league but there is no pressure,” the Reds boss said.
“He will come into the Premier League and [fellow Brazilian] Lucas knows as good as anyone it takes time to adapt.
“He has all the traits and profile in terms of what we want as a player.
Roberto Firmino - Spotlight on
He works very hard, talented player, scores goals, so we are really excited and look forward to him coming in.”
Firmino has not made the trip to Thailand as he has been given extra time off following his exploits in the Copa America with Brazil.
But new arrivals Danny Ings, James Milner, Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez have travelled along with Divock Origi who joins up with his new team-mates after a year on loan at Lille.
Rodgers remained coy on the prospect of further signings as the club continue to pursue Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke and would only talk about players currently on the trip.
The Liverpool boss does have with him the three new members of his backroom staff in assistant Sean O’Driscoll, first-team coach Gary McAllister and development coach Pepijn Lijnders.
Former assistant Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh departed earlier in the summer, a decision Rodgers insisted he made himself.
He added: “Colin and Mike are two fantastic guys who worked very well. Both great professionals and were very supportive during the time they worked with the club.
“I just felt that we needed to move in a different direction. That the decision that was purely made by himself.
“The guys have come in, started well and integrated very well into the group.
“Hopefully we can continue with that ambience in our work.”
The SUBWAY® brand is the official training partner of Liverpool Football Club. For information on SUBWAY® initiatives supporting healthier and active lifestyles visit www.subway.com