Anger and disappointment. The two emotions invariably felt amongst the Liverpool FC fanbase after news broke of Raheem Sterling's intention to leave the club.

Perhaps the fact that the 20-year-old has continually delayed contract talks made the eventual decision less surprising, but that does not do anything to take away the rage met with Sterling's resolution.

It does not particularly help, that the news breaks at a time when bad news is coming in bucket loads.

When it rains it pours, and after all the failures of the current campaign - seeing Steven Gerrard bid an emotional farewell to Anfield recently did to little to douse growing fears over a club, quite frankly, in disarray.

Truthfully, the news is only the latest disappointment in a campaign which has been littered with frequent slip-ups, underachievements and let downs.

It started with a pathetic performance in the UEFA Champions League, before the mix of pride and regret at Liverpool's Capital One Cup exit - where they gave as good as they got against Chelsea, but ended up rueing missed opportunities and lacklustre finishing.

An embarrassing Europa League elimination away at Besiktas came next, though the competition was only of secondary importance to most - but the FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa was the cruelest low of all. A poor team performance that saw the Reds crash out unexpectedly to Tim Sherwood's then relegation-threatened side. Not for a lack of clinical finishing, but a lack of leadership, heart, desire - and a trait Brendan Rodgers loves so dearly, character.

Cap that all off with a failure to finish inside the top-four in a season in which the Barclays' Premier League has arguably been at its weakest ever, and it's been 12 months to forget for Liverpool fans. Add on top Daniel Sturridge's latest injury lay-off, Gerrard's impending departure and Sterling's wishes to leave and the summer isn't set to get much better.

Rewind back a year and things were distinctly different. The Reds had come off the back of a season in which they finished two points short of their first title since 1990 and they had one of the best young sides in Europe, led by one of the continent's most exciting young managers. All things were rosy.

Switch back to the present and things have taken a nosedive for the worse. The Northern Irishman has overseen a hugely disappointing season and with Gerrard leaving and Sterling's future uncertain, the main components that made Liverpool so good last season are slowly falling away. 

With Luis Suarez enjoying himself in a Barcelona side that can still win the treble, Daniel Sturridge having endured almost every injury possible and the Reds' summer signings having (for the most part) far from endeared themselves to the Liverpool supporters - good times seem a world away. 

Troubling and testing times await, and Sterling - who was arguably the Reds' best player during the title run-in last season - is the next ready to jump ship, after what has been a much less impressive campaign for the English international on an individual basis.

None of Rodgers' side, in fairness, have come anything close to replicating the joys of last season (perhaps Philippe Coutinho aside) but Sterling's determination to engineer a move away is made more frustrating by the fact that his form has dramatically tailed off in recent months. 

His demand for wages in excess of £150,000-a-week - which would make him the joint-highest paid player at the club despite having yet to prove himself on the big stages, frustrated many due to the fact he has yet to prove himself worth such money.

His claim that Liverpool have "bullied" him into signing a new contract frustrated fans even more so, whilst the apparent excuse that the Reds have not done anything to shield him from negative headlines is simply absurd.

But the simple truth is that in a week where Liverpool are set to lose a legend, they cannot afford for stories to linger over the future of one of their most promising players.

If not for the fact that there's a likelihood the fee, no matter how large, would be re-spent inadequately - but even more for the fact that allowing Sterling to leave would be a serious step backwards in the supposed project at the club.

Okay - since the contract talk arose, Sterling's form has dropped. In recent performances, apart from Chelsea away, he has been a shadow of the player he threatened to become at the same stage last season.

To the point where Sterling's performances have evoked more frustration than any others. Fans groaned in exasperation at Sterling's close-range miss against QPR, more than Leroy Fer's equaliser - whilst he was a non-entity against Crystal Palace, which was of equally as much annoyance to those inside the ground.

Even still, Sterling's potential is there for all to see. Despite more than reasonable question marks over his finishing, he has 11 goals and seven assists in 54 games in all competitions this season - behind only Steven Gerrard (12) in the goalscoring charts, and Jordan Henderson (10) in terms of assists. 

Furthermore, Sterling has played one less minutes than captain-elect Henderson and first-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, having been involved in 4435 minutes this season. So, it's fair to say that since bursting onto the scene back in 2012, Sterling has cemented himself as a key member of the Northern Irishman's team.

Even at the age of just 20, Sterling has already made nearly 100 appearances in the Premier League - across a number of different positions, from wing-back to striker and central attacking midfielder to winger. 

It's absolutely no surprise therefore, that the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and even Bayern Munich are believed to have been keeping tabs on Sterling.  

Though some have doubted the authenticity of his talent, claiming last season's performances were a one-off by insisting the player benefitted from the duo of Sturridge and Suarez, just as much as Rodgers seemed to - that would be a discredit to a young player who only left his teenage years behind 162 days ago. 

He may not have achieved much in terms of trophies, whilst he still has a number of steps to make before he influences in the biggest games. He was nowhere to be seen versus Villa at Wembley Stadium, despite insisting on his desire for trophies beforehand, whilst he did little of note in the Reds' Champions League campaign.

But even with that said, there are reasons why vultures are circling to prise Sterling away from Merseyside. The European Golden Boy winner, over the last 18 months, has usually been at the centre of things when Liverpool have been on top form.

Sterling is not exactly a peripheral figure, for club or country - and his current situation draws some parallels with that of Michael Owen's - who similarly looked to make a move to a club more capable of consistent challenges for trophies. 

Therein lies the problem that faces Liverpool Football Club at present. Even since the days of Owen, who left in the summer of 2004 -  the Reds may have won a fifth Champions League, an FA Cup, a League Cup, a European Super Cup, a Community Shield and twice come close to a first Premier League title - but they are still no closer to regularly challenging for those trophies.

Under Rafael Benitez, Liverpool reached two finals of the European Cup in three years, sure. But the Reds have spent the last five years out in the cold and the way in which they crashed out of the competition this season only further proved the fact that the Reds are not the power they once were. 

Whilst their English rivals have all continued to improve and prosper in those years, Manchester United re-establishing their berth in Europe no less than a year after finishing a meek 7th, Liverpool have fallen by the wayside. 

That, you feel, is the true reason why Sterling feels like his future may be better served elsewhere. Because at current, Liverpool don't look any closer to reaching the heights that of days gone by. In fact, Liverpool don't look even near to reaching the heights of 2013-14.

The whole situation leaves Rodgers. and co at somewhat of a crossroads, but Sterling has a decision to make too.

His mind seems already made up, though current and ex-professional footballers have queued up clamouring over the danger of a move to someone like Manchester City - citing examples of Shaun Wright Phillips and Scott Sinclair as good reason why a move too early can prove counter-productive.

Though, the reality is that at the clubs touted with a move for Sterling - he will be closer to winning bigger trophies. It is not a nice reality, but that is simply how it is.

Later this week, Sterling will watch Steven Gerrard end his Liverpool career having not earned the one elusive trophy he always wanted to lift. Whilst that does not necessarily mean the 20-year-old's career at Anfield would end the same if he dedicated a few more years to the cause on Merseyside, the Reds' next title challenge seems a long way away and he does not want to waste his years wondering when it will come along.

Rodgers and Fenway Sports Group's stance on the matter is unlikely to change, even if Sterling directly tells them he wants to leave over the coming months.

Of course, the player could command a substantial fee - potentially allowing Rodgers more money to bring in targets over the summer, but with the money made from Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez in recent years, perhaps cashing in and looking to replace some of the club's best talents hasn't always been the most efficient approach.

Liverpool only said goodbye to the Uruguayan last season, whilst Flanagan and Sturridge have missed much of the season through injury - but the replacements brought in last summer with the money from his transfer have taken too long to adjust - and the Reds have suffered as a result. Can they afford to do so again?

Not to mention that losing a player of Sterling's talent and promise could set a dangerous precedent at the club, whose philosophy which prioritises clever signings and youth development is dangerously nearing the prospect of becoming a feeder club to those more successsful.

There are the exceptions, such as fellow bright prospect Philippe Coutinho - still only 22 - who signed a new deal at the club worth a humble £70,000-a-week with no bother whatsoever only a few months ago. But Sterling obviously does not have the same attitude, having set his eyes on the glitz and glamour of the big time. 

Should he realise his potential, Sterling is likely to get there, too. But Liverpool should, and will, stand strong in their fight to maintain the player over the summer.

Just as they did with Suarez back in 2013, FSG will be keen to ensure they keep their finest assets. After all, they are in the club to maximise its worth and cash in on the profit - eventually.

They may never see that day if their approach is endangered by the possibility of Liverpool becoming a constant cycle in which players with potential enter the club, begin to realise their talents on Merseyside and then leave for to win silverware elsewhere.

So, whilst some are insisting Liverpool should be done with Sterling - earning as much money as they can this summer before pumping the transfer fee back into the squad, a more cautious approach must be adopted.

Whilst keeping a player against his will could have a negative effect, with Sterling's approach to the game clearly different to the like of Suarez - who continued to give 100% despite being denied a summer switch, keeping someone of Sterling's talent is a different proposition.

It is obvious the Reds crave top quality. Falcao and Angel Di Maria may not have had the desired impacts on Louis van Gaal's United squad, but the attraction of playing with such players certainly helped in securing United's other signings.

But it may be some time until names of such stature are walking through the doors at Melwood, due to the state which Liverpool find themselves in.

Just as unstable is Brendan Rodgers' position in the club.  There already seems to be a poisonous atmosphere amongst the dressing room. At least according to the Daily Mail, who have suggested even Sterling's teammates have said he should look to move away from the Reds to realise his potential.

If true, there is clearly a doubt amongst the squad behind the scenes - whatever they might say to the media - that Rodgers' Liverpool are on their way to glory, like the song now rarely heard on the Kop once insisted.

The Northern Irishman's job looks to be secure for the coming months, but allowing Sterling to leave and putting the money into signings who may or may not work out - would only increase the risk of having another season in which Liverpool fall further and further behind the leading pack. 

Liverpool cannot afford that, neither can Rodgers - and if that's the way the rest of 2015 pans out, Liverpool may then find themselves on the hunt for a new manager and in a brand new state of dreaded "transitioning."

It's clear that the Reds must invest adequately in experienced and proven players to add to a core of promising youngsters. Only then will those with big futures ahead of them begin to believe that Liverpool is the right place to stay, develop and win trophies.

But until that happens, FSG risk turning the Reds' into a conveyor belt of talent for the "bigger" clubs. Liverpool FC is not once what it was, and clinging onto former glories is not enough for the modern-day footballer. It may have been for a player like Gerrard, of whom the player and the city meant so much - but to someone like Sterling, it does not have evoke the same loyalties. 

If the club cannot begin to challenge year-in, year-out - Sterling will certainly not be the last to come through the ranks and then opt out when the time comes. 

Nevertheless, Sterling looks willing to take on the club over his future - with agent Aidy Ward behind him. Liverpool cannot afford to allow the pair to come out on top and force a move on their terms. But equally so, keeping Sterling may have a detrimental effect.

It will be an interesting few months for the player, Brendan Rodgers, and Liverpool Football Club as a whole - and the outcome may determine whether next year is spent re-building once more, or fighting strongly to re-gain a Champions League place.