---
title: "Lawro: No way back for Sterling"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/lawro-no-way-back-for-sterling/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Smith"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2015-05-23T19:44:31Z"
modified: "2015-05-23T20:44:20Z"
---

# Lawro: No way back for Sterling

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes there is no way that Raheem Sterling can have a future at Liverpool after what has transpired in recent weeks.

Lawrenson, in a column for the *Liverpool Echo,* said: *“There is no way back for Raheem Sterling at Liverpool now.*

*“I just can’t see the England man being at the club at the start of next season.*

*“Let’s face it, amid all the chatter from Sterling and his agent, there have been enough chances for the player to say he wants to stay.*

*“It’s clear he doesn’t.*

*“The warning signs were there earlier in the year when Sterling said he wanted to put his contract talks on hold.”*

The 57-year-old believes the player has every right to seek a transfer, but doesn’t agree with the manner in which the winger has gone about it.

*“Look, it’s Sterling’s right to want to move,”* he continued.

*“The mistake that’s been made is he hasn’t come out and said the reason he wants to leave is because he wants to play Champions League.*

*“If he’d done that, fans would not be overly impressed but at least they’d understand it better. That, after all, is what Suarez wanted.*

*“Instead, the whole situation has descended into a farce. And you have to point the finger at his representative for that. He’s made a difficult situation even worse.*

*“Sterling would be best served just to come clean and say publicly that he doesn’t want to play for Liverpool any more.*

*“He doesn’t need to give his reasons. After all, we’ve seen players force a move many times in the past. It has always happened and always will.”*

Lawrenson, who won five league titles during his time at Anfield as well as a European Cup, three League Cups and an FA Cup, said that the club should be held accountable for the situation if Sterling has told them that he wants to leave.

He said: *“The majority of supporters have taken umbrage at Sterling’s stance and a lot of players believe he has been completely disrespectful to the club.*

*“I wouldn’t be that strong. Instead, I believe it is just bad-mannered. There’s been a lack of honesty.*

*“Everyone is playing a game.*

*“If Sterling HAS told the club he wants to go, why haven’t they come out and said so? Why wouldn’t they say that?*

*“They should just come and say ‘yes, he has told us he wants to leave but he’s under contract to us and we don’t want to sell him’.”*

The BBC pundit also feels as though the 20-year-old isn’t in the ‘world-class’ bracket yet.

*“I don’t believe Sterling is ever going to be a top, top player,”* said Lawrenson.

*“He’s a fine player. He has lots of potential. He has plenty of pace and he is very strong.*

*“But he hasn’t got a trick.*

*“What happens when he plays against a defender who is as strong or as quick? He doesn’t really have that stepover, that moment of magic to deceive opponents.*

*“Whatever Liverpool say over the coming days and weeks, privately they will be looking to get as much money as they can for Sterling, move him on and invest in another talent.”*