Then we'll have to convince him that every game's a big game then. #toptopplayer
Why do you think he'll have more motivation at Liverpool? Prestige?
Put it this way. A Serbian's dream is to one day play for Partizan or Red Star. Not Real, or Barcelona, or Liverpool or United. The ultimate local dream is to score in a cauldron of flares, tempers, and become a hero to half of the country or a villain to the other half.
Once they get there though, in today's age, they are hit with the underwhelming reality of our football. If you're any good you're sold after a season or two to the first team that offers you money - from Germany to Georgia. If you're awful you're eventually kept until you get fed up with not receiving your pay and leave. At this point these talented youngsters realise they have to leave the country, go abroad, and pick a new career goal. Some top European team that will offer them glory. Unfortunately for them they often have to join a smaller team first - because who is going to risk big bucks on unproven Serbian players? For every Jovetic there is a Jovanovic.
Markovic went to Benfica probably not because of his own will but because he was pretty much owned by Falji Ramadani. To him, Benfica wasn't the best destination he could have gotten. Portugal isn't the most exciting footballing country and their league has seen better days. Benfica vs. Vitoria Guimaraes or Arouca hardly inspires television viewers to recognize his talent. All that aside he still went along and had a great time with the fellow Serbs there and I'm sure he appreciated how much the fans there love football. It's just hard to get motivated to play for a team that is no better than your previous one in the CL (ok so they actually play in the group stages but have no chance of progressing).
Coming to Liverpool is finally the top destination he will find, a club at the top challenging for the top. No more cup fights vs. Belenenses, instead playing Premier League clubs every year. Remember, 15th place in England could probably finish as champion in Serbia. A much higher level of competition and a different mentality will force him to play week in, week out at a consistent level.
Quick rant (not a pop at you Nozzer). Players should look at every game as a "big" game, you get 3 points in the league for beating Chelsea/City, you get the same 3 points for beating Cardiff/Leicester. In cup games you get to the next round if you win no matter if it is Arsenal you beat or Bury. Every game is a "big" game if you want to win something!
Yes but he's been playing against Metalac Gornji Milanovac and Pacos de Ferreira his whole life. So he will soon understand that, but for now it could potentially lead to some less than average performances. Other times he will play better than Sterling did last season. It's really up to him to want that fifth career title (won every season in his career) in five years. We will see. 3 points is 3 points but when you are 15 ahead of second place it's complacency that is an issue. He's not arrogant about it but he can go missing. If Rodgers motivates him like he has been doing to the rest, I don't expect much of a problem.
Also, don't get me wrong. His decision making is quite good for a player his age, it's the style of play that he has that removes all time to think. It's what Messi does when he dribbles past 4 players, he stops thinking and just moves, it comes naturally. Now, Messi is Messi, and Markovic is closer to Sterling than to Messi, but it's the same playing style. Have you seen Leo just kick into automatic mode where he does something amazing like a machine? Well Lazar has to play at an even faster tempo than that. It can be incredible to watch but frustrating when it doesn't go his way. There is naturally a higher risk that it doesn't go his way when he plays on the run, but I think with time and experience this will go away.
sorry I meant as in it was an open vote online. I've heard of clubs doing it via panels or random selection of club members. 
