Raheem Sterling has been dropped from the England National team that will be playing Montenegro on Thursday evening. The fight happened in the 89th minute of the game after Joe Gomez pushed Sterling in the touchline. Although there was no serious fight between them, Raheem Sterling became the scapegoat after the incident.
The match between Liverpool and Manchester City which is like the Title decider match came with so much heat and pressure. Liverpool started their onslaught from the first 6 minutes after Fabinho placed the ball beyond the reach of Bravo in the 6th minute. Mohammed Salah doubled the lead in the 13th minute and then, Saidu Mane rounded up the scoring in the 51st minute of the game. Manchester City managed to register a goal before the game ended 3-1.
How the fight started
The heat got intense in the last minutes of the game after Mohammed Salah was substituted and Joe Gomes brought in the second half of the game. Raheem Sterling was first pushed down by T. Alexander-Arnold although the referee did not see it as a foul. It continued as the referee also made things worse for the visitors who were looking for a goal by all possible means.
The introduction of Joe Gomez to the defense line to seal the home side’s victory was going well until in the 89th minute when Gomez pushed him again. Raheem Sterling could not hold himself and came to confront Gomez who still pushed him away before they were separated. Words were exchanged but there were no physical fights from both parties.
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The Manchester City winger admitted that he allowed his emotions to take the best of him. He said, “emotions got the better of me”, and said he and Joe Gomez have “figured things out and moved on.” Sterling was sensationally dropped from the squad for England’s next Euro 2020 qualifier as punishment for trying to reopen his Anfield row with Gomez.
Sterling wrote on his Instagram account: “First and foremost everyone knows what that game means to me! Everyone knows that I am not that way inclined and more to the point. Both Joe and I have had words and figured things out and moved on.
“We are in a sport where emotions run high and I am man enough to admit when emotions got the better of me.” Sterling added that he and Gomez “are good” and “both understand it was a 5-10 second thing it’s done we have moved on. Sterling apologized to Gomez and the rest of the England squad for his behavior at St George’s Park on Monday. But that was not enough to escape punishment from manager Gareth Southgate.
Coach’s Verdict on Sterling
Southgate initially wanted to send Sterling home during the duration of the international break. The intervention of senior players within the squad made him changed his mind. Sterling’s behavior is the worst possible start to Southgate’s preparations for the Euro 2020 qualifying double-header against Montenegro and Kosovo.
A statement released by the Football Association said: “The FA can confirm Raheem Sterling will not be considered for Thursday’s EURO 2020 qualifier. But he will remain with the squad.” Southgate added: “We have taken the decision to not consider Raheem for the match against Montenegro. One of the great challenges and strengths for us is that we’ve been able to separate club rivalries from the national team.
Unfortunately, the emotions of the game between Liverpool and Manchester City proved that we have not done enough. “My feeling is that the right thing for the team is the action we have taken. And the decision is a unanimous one because the team is in agreement. The next thing now is to support the players and focus on Thursday night.”
Why only Sterling is dropped
The coach said if it had ended in the match, it won’t be a problem but Sterling still initiated a fight in their camp. Sterling arrived at St George’s Park to meet up for England duty and immediately laid into him Again. According to witnesses, he allegedly attempted to provoke a physical confrontation.
Gomez is not dropped because of how he handled the situation by refusing to retaliate which could have led to physically fight. Raheem Sterling realized his mistake and then, offered an apology to Gomez which was accepted. But that was not the end of the whole issue for Sterling. He will now sit and watch the Montenegro game and must wait to see if he is selected for the qualifier in Kosovo on Sunday.
