Raheem
Sterling will handle the pressure when he returns to Liverpool for the
first time as a Manchester City player, says boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Sterling, 21, was booed by Reds fans as City won the League Cup on Sunday.
The England winger left Anfield in acrimonious circumstances last summer, after rejecting a £100,000-a-week deal.
"Players that cannot play in a difficult environment are not top players," said Pellegrini. "I have 100% trust in him."
Sterling, who became the most expensive English player ever when he joined City for £49m in July, will start Wednesday's Premier League game.
"He's a young man, a young player starting his career, but he knows how to deal with pressure," added Pellegrini.
"He'll receive the same treatment as he did at the weekend, but I'm sure he can play without a problem, and he'll be a very important player, as he was in the last game."
City beat Sterling's former side on penalties in Sunday's Capital One Cup final.
This time, league points are at stake as the Blues look to narrow the gap on leaders Leicester City.
Pellegrini's side are nine points behind the Foxes but with a game in hand.
