Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has defended his players following ‘stamping’ incidents involving Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard against Manchester United, reports the Daily Express.
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The Reds lost 1-2 to the Mancunian side at Anfield on Sunday, but the game was marred by a red card given to the Merseyside club’s captain less than 60 seconds after he had been introduced to proceedings following a stamp on Ander Herrera.
Although Brendan Rodgers’ side were already a goal behind at the time it was a major blow to their hopes of coming out of the encounter with anything.
The Northern Irishman said: “Steven apologised to the players and me in the dressing room. It was probably frustration, we didn’t put a tackle in in the first half but the players adjusted well.”
Meanwhile Skrtel was seen to stamp on United goalkeeper David De Gea in the last few minutes of the tie.
The referee did not appear to see the incident and the FA may well rule on it in the near future.
His manager said: “I have seen the Martin Skrtel incident. The ball was played through but it probably looks worse in slow motion. It looks like he is trying to get a nick on the ball, to get a toe on the ball but the ball went into the goalkeepers hand. Martin is not that type of player, he was just a fraction out.”