text: Raheem Sterling is earning less than Mario Balotelli. In fact he's earning less than half of what Balotelli is on at Liverpool. Puts a few things into perspective doesn't it? Liverpool Football Club have made some poor decisions in terms of signings and contracts since Luis Suarez departed, and those mistakes look set to cost them their place in the top four. For Brendan Rodgers' sake whoever is in charge of sorting out Sterling's new contract this summer needs to get it right. If they think they can afford to lose Suarez, Gerrard and Sterling in the space of 12 months they are very much mistaken. Raheem Sterling's contract negotiations have dominated the headlines in the past fortnight . Sterling shares a laugh in training ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup replay with Blackburn on Wednesday . Mario Balotelli earns more than double Sterling at present despite failing to perform in a Liverpool shirt . Sterling's agent has been accused of giving him bad advice. Apparently what people want his agent to tell him is that he's not particularly good, he's too young to earn big money, and he should sign whatever contract Liverpool offer him because he should be grateful just to even be there. The advice the agent gave was to turn down the contract offer and focus on football until the summer. Sounds reasonable to me. The big problem here is not the tired old narrative of a young greedy footballer. It's that Liverpool, through Rodgers, have repeatedly told the press and the fans that there would be no problem and Sterling would sign the new deal. In the middle of December, Rodgers described Sterling as 'a talisman' and told us he was confident he would stay. At the end of January, Rodgers told us the contract would be 'concluded imminently'. Last month he described the new offer to Sterling as 'incredible'. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has always insisted that the Sterling talks would be concluded soon . Sterling has been linked with a move to Arsenal, admitting he was 'flattered' by their interest . Rodgers has repeatedly insisted that Sterling will not be moving anywhere this summer . Liverpool find themselves seven points adrift in the race for the Champions League places . Rodgers has said things there he had no right to say, but those assurances he gave have now served to make Sterling and his agent out to be the bad guys. The astonished response of hypocritical ex-pros and pundits stuck in an era where the maximum wage still exists was blown up beyond proportion. 'How dare this greedy young man who's won nothing, scored less goals than Jon Walters (who thought that one up?) turn down this incredible offer from this great club. He should be grateful to be at such a club.' This was the standard response from people out of touch with the modern game. The 'incredible' deal was actually an offer which put Sterling on a par with Balotelli. Liverpool Football Club should be embarrassed by that offer to Raheem Sterling, a player who kept quiet last summer when he watched Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Balotelli all walk through the door and sign deals worth more than double what he was on. He then stayed quiet while his performances were being scrutinised more than most in the absence of Suarez and Sturridge, with Lallana injured at the start of the campaign and with Gerrard fading fast. Adam Lallana has been hindered by injuries since he arrived at Anfield from Southampton last summer . Dejan Lovren also arrived at Liverpool from Southampton in the summer and earns more than Sterling . The departure of Steven Gerrard to the MLS this summer will free up space on Liverpool's wage bill . Meantime Rodgers said there would be no issue with Sterling signing again, so when it turned out there was a problem, Sterling was instantly the bad guy, along with his agent. Now the message from those who want to bring Sterling down is that he's not very good. 'He's not good enough to move to a bigger club' (since when were Liverpool a small club by the way?) 'He would be stuck on the bench if he moved.' 'Coutinho is better.' 'Let him go, Jordan Ibe is coming through.' If people want to believe all that it's up to them, but it won't alter these facts: . Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson are set to leave this summer which will free up a huge amount of the wages budget at Anfield. Philippe Coutinho would provide an alternative should Sterling depart Anfield in the summer . The emergence of teenage winger Jordon Ibe also suggests there could be life beyond Sterling at Liverpool . Sterling should be playing Champions League football - something Liverpool may not offer next season . Gerrard knows all about contract situations not being addressed, and that's why he said two months ago that the club need to sort out the futures of Sterling and Henderson 'before it's too late'. It was an important message from the captain that got lost in all the negative spin aimed at bringing Sterling and his agent's credibility down. The last two defeats have brought the debate back to where it should be: the mistakes made by Rodgers and Liverpool. Ramping up the hate towards a young English player who wants to play in the Champions League and wants to earn significantly more than a total waste of space like Mario Balotelli will hopefully now be seen for what it is – a way of deflecting from the real issues at Anfield. What's really disappointing is that a young talented player has had to put up with all this criticism. It's classically English I'm afraid. Those critics should be ashamed of themselves. Seriously - imagine if Real Madrid do want Sterling this summer, as Liverpool prepare for a Europa League campaign. Would it be good advice to turn down that move?
target: Raheem Sterling is currently earning less than half Mario Balotelli's salary .
  Even signing new £100,000-a-week deal would only take him to parity .
  Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted Sterling will put pen to paper .
  But he has assumed he'll stay at Liverpool when he has other ambitions .
  Sterling should be playing in the Champions League .
  And Liverpool, seven points off fourth place, may not be able to offer that .
  Adrian Durham: Arsenal only turn it on when the pressure is off .
  Durham: Rooney and Carrick are Man Utd's only players with the 'football intelligence' demanded by Louis van Gaal .
  CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news .
  Raheem Sterling is a very good player .
  He's been performing at a high level consistently for two seasons .
  If a club is prepared to pay £50m he would play regularly for them .
  There would be no shortage of clubs wanting to sign him – Real Madrid have already said they are monitoring his situation .
  Rodgers says they won't sell this summer, but it's more bluster I'm afraid. Common sense dictates they can't afford to let his contract run down to its final year. The situation needs to be addressed .
  Sterling wants to play Champions League football. What's so wrong with that?