Steven Gerrard - difficult for me to support Raheem Sterling

Steven Gerrard has described the Raheem Sterling situation at Liverpool as "very disappointing".

The wantaway England international has been absent from the Reds’ pre-season preparations at Melwood after reporting in ill.

It is understood Sterling spoke to manager Brendan Rodgers earlier this week to tell him he did not want to travel on the tour to Asia and Australia.

Liverpool have rejected a £40million bid for the 20-year-old from Manchester City and Gerrard, who made more than 700 appearances for the Reds before this summer moving to LA Galaxy, said: “I’m not happy with all that carry-on.

“He needs to go in and see the owners. You don’t have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour. There are millions of Liverpool fans waiting to see Raheem pull on a Liverpool shirt.

“It looks very disappointing from where I’m sat. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too.”

Gerrard continued on Sky Sports News: “It’s very difficult for me to sit here and support him and the team around him...what they’re trying to do with his career at a young age.

“It’ll be a terrible shame if he goes somewhere and doesn’t kick on as a player.

“It’s slightly disappointing how far the situation has gone — but the only way I can see for him is out at the moment.”

Gerrard, due to make his debut for the MLS club in a friendly against Mexico's Club America on Saturday, contrasted Sterling's attitude with that of Jordan Henderson.

“Raheem and Jordan are at different ends of the scale,” he told BBC Sport. “Jordan’s so professional, he’s a winner, a great lad.

Henderson is poised to replace Gerrard as Reds captain and the 35-year-old said of his former colleague: “Jordan’s been loyal to the club by signing a new deal and I wish him well.

“I see a lot of my game in Jordan’s game and what I like about him is he’s very humble.

“I don’t think there’s a more fitting player to take that armband off me.”