Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes the club should have conducted contract talks with Raheem Sterling in a less public forum.

The press and general public have been privy to the ongoing saga between the 20-year old winger and the Reds which has caused a lot of tension around Anfield.

At the end-of-season awards night at the Echo Arena on Tuesday, Hamann told Sky Sports News HQ that perhaps the club should have kept everything behind closed doors in order to avoid such a situation which saw Sterling booed when picking up his Young Player of the Year award.

"I don't think these things should be made public because it doesn't look good. There's anger in the city now concerning Raheem Sterling for no need," said the German.

"If he decides to leave in the summer and the club gets paid what they want, then wish him all the best, but the way it's been handled has been poor on his behalf and as a club there's not much you can do - put a price on him, and if someone pays it you sell him and get other players in."