Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has blasted Raheem Sterling as "desperately naive" for admitting that he was flattered to be linked with a switch to Arsenal earlier this week.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for the England international as his contract stand-off with the Reds rumbles on.

However, former centre-back Carragher admitted that he was disappointed to hear Sterling's comments in his Daily Mail column.

Carragher said: "First, he was desperately naive to say such a thing on the eve of such a crucial game. He is also naive, as are his advisers, if he thinks Arsenal would guarantee him a regular place every week.

"What Sterling's camp are struggling to see is that Liverpool is the best place for him. Forget money for a minute. This is about football and his development. He will start the vast majority of games at Anfield. Would that be the case at Arsenal? No.

"He wouldn't play as a centre forward there ahead of Olivier Giroud or Alexis Sanchez. Being a No 10 would be out of the question, as he is not like Mesut Ozil or Santi Cazorla, which would mean a battle with Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott to start wide right."

Sterling will be part of the Liverpool side that travels to Arsenal on Saturday.