Liverpool legend John Aldridge fears his old team are becoming a feeder club for Europe's biggest.

He is concerned seeing Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson delaying contract talks.

Aldo wrote in the Sunday World: "It pains me to write these words as I would hate to see Liverpool, the one-time kings of English and European football, being dismissed as little more than a place where young players hone their skills before they join genuine trophy contenders, but that is a real threat hanging over my old club right now.

"Top teams have no problem keeping hold of their best players and especially those they have worked hard to mould into top players like Henderson and Sterling, but Liverpool are not managing to do that any more.

"Fernando Torres was lured away by Chelsea not so long ago for big money before Barcelona poached Luis Suarez last summer and now we find ourselves wondering whether Henderson and Sterling are the next star names to look for an Anfield escape route."