Liverpool hero Michael Owen has blasted Raheem Sterling and his advisors for their decision to speak about the contract negotiations publicly in an interview with the BBC.

20-year old Sterling has faced criticism from all corners due to the interview which aired prior to the crucial Premier League game against Arsenal which ended in a 4-1 defeat.

"We saw further evidence that Sterling isn't a natural in front of the camera," Owen said on social network Sportlobster.

"That's not a huge issue in itself but it does beg an obvious question: Why on earth did his advisor consent to exposing his client to a situation that he doesn't feel comfortable in while discussing arguably the hottest current topic in English football?

"Unless he was going to announce that he was signing a new contract imminently, he was on a hiding to nothing.

"Every Liverpool fan was hanging on his every word and if there were a few willing to sympathise with him a week ago, there won't be many who do now."

In the interview, the England international denied he was a 'money-grabber' for turning down a reported £100,000-a-week contract and revealed that the negotiations are now on hold until the end of the season.