As Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday, taking a massive forward step in the title race, Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez were involved in a scuffle.
[freshpress-poll id=”259490″]
As a result, England manager Gareth Southgate took the decision to drop Sterling from the international side’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro.
This comes after tensions were still flying high in the wake of the Reds’ victory at Anfield, prompting Gomez and Sterling to have a heated moment in the national team’s private area between training, with reports claiming the two players had to be pulled apart by their England teammates.
One report has since added that Gomez appeared later with a scratch next to his eye, and Sterling has now apologised.
Speaking to the BBC, Southgate explained:
“We have taken the decision to not consider Raheem for the match against Montenegro on Thursday. My feeling is that the right thing for the team is the action we have taken.
“Now that the decision has been made with the agreement of the entire squad, it’s important that we support the players and focus on Thursday night.”
As a result, City supporters reacted with criticism, taking to Twitter and voicing their distaste towards the manager’s decision, here’s what they had to say:
The fools, he is their best player.
— Frank Middleton (@FmMiggy63) November 12, 2019
Southgate’s idea of punishment is to drop England’s best player? shambolic management
— oli (@olicoulson_) November 11, 2019
Drop him forever. Sod England.
— Neil (@neilmather10) November 12, 2019
Massive overreaction by Southgate, no need to make it public , these things happen . Love the passion by Raz . If it was a game we needed to win , no way would he be dropped. Gomez only a fringe player at best so he can’t drop him any further
— David Wilkinson (@Davidh29128) November 12, 2019
Poor decision by England. Bearing in mind the abuse he’s been given by certain ‘fans’ the FA have just thrown fuel on this fire. No doubt the gutter press will be running it too.
— Jason Hodgkinson (@jasondh1972) November 12, 2019
Even the England team are anti city the manager certainly is
— Andrew Rollason (@rollason_andrew) November 12, 2019
