Roberto Firmino under 'no pressure' to replace Raheem Sterling at Liverpool – Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says new signing Roberto Firmino has all the attributes to replace Raheem Sterling, as the 20 year old's move to Manchester City grows ever closer.

The Daily Mail understands that Sterling has undergone a medical ahead of completing his £49m ($76.3m) move to the Etihad Stadium, a switch which would make him the most expensive English player ever.

Having already made six additions during the summer transfer window, Rodgers has been coy over making another signing to replace Sterling and reinvesting the money back into the Liverpool squad.

And part of that approach is down to Rodgers believing that Firmino, who joined from Hoffenheim for £29m according to BBC Sport, can be the player to step into the shoes of Sterling this season.

"He's a top-class player. He's obviously played in Europe, so he understands and played in a very good league," he responded when asked whether Firmino could replace Sterling according to the official Liverpool website. "Of course, there is no pressure.

"He'll come into the Premier League and Lucas knows as well as anyone as a fellow Brazilian that coming in, it just takes that little bit of time to adapt.

"He's got all the traits and the profile of what we would want as a player – he works very, very hard, he's a talented player and someone we feel can score goals for the team. I'm really excited and looking forward to him coming in."

Aside from the six additions to the Liverpool playing squad, which has accompanied the exit of six players including Steven Gerrard, Rodgers has also rung the changes in his coaching team.

Assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first team coach Mike Marsh have both left the Liverpool backroom team, changes that came following an end-of-season review after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League.

And Rodgers has defended the exits and dismissed any suggestion that the alterations were forced upon him by owners Fenway Sports Group.

"I decided to make a change in the staff," he added as the club arrived in the Far East for the first leg of their pre-season tour. "I had two fantastic guys – guys that worked very, very well – in both Colin and Mike. Both great professionals.

"They were very, very good and supportive in the time they were at the club. I just felt the need to move in a different direction and that was a decision that was made purely by myself.

"We'll look forward, the guys have come in started well and integrated very well into the group. Hopefully we can continue with that ambience in our work."