Former West Ham and Manchester City striker Trevor Morley has slammed Liverpool for their handling of Raheem Sterling's contract renewal.

Sterling has declared that he does not want to sign a new contract with Liverpool and he is now keen on leaving the Anfield club this summer.




The winger, who has two years left on his contract, has insisted that winning trophies and not money is his motivating factor, with an offer of £100,000 per week knocked back.

For Morley, Liverpool only have themselves to blame for how the situation has turned out with the England international and he pointed to two reasons.
 

 

"Liverpool only have themselves to blame and there are two reasons for that", Morley told TV2.

relatedNewsStory

"The first one is that while they have prestige because they are a big club, their performance hasn't been good enough. The club have won one trophy in nine years. He wants to win titles.

"The second is that they let the greatest talent in English football have two years left on his contract on just £35,000 per week. They should never have let this happen.

"The fact is that [Luis] Suarez went. I can understand the boy [Sterling]. He is not from Liverpool. They took him from QPR."

Morley also took aim at several former Liverpool players who have criticised Sterling, especially John Barnes.

"Then people come out, like John Barnes, and say he has not improved.

"Barnes went from Watford to Liverpool when they were the best team in Europe. Sterling now plays in a mediocre team. He wants to play in a better team."

Liverpool had been due to hold talks with Sterling and his agent yesterday, but cancelled the meeting at short notice and insist discussions will only be held in the summer.

Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.