Raheem Sterling left Liverpool in contentious circumstances and later infuriated supporters with public criticism of team-mate Joe Gomez. The former England winger's comments came after a UEFA Nations League victory over Iceland in 2020, when he was already unpopular on Merseyside following his £49m move to Manchester City.
Sterling made his Liverpool debut as a teenager and helped the side finish as Premier League runners-up behind City in 2014. A year later he moved to the Etihad Stadium, where he became a four-time Premier League champion under Pep Guardiola. However, his standing at Anfield never fully recovered, and his remarks about Gomez made matters worse.
Comments after Iceland victory
Sterling put England ahead from the penalty spot against Iceland, but Gomez conceded a late spot-kick that gave the opposition a chance to level. Birkir Bjarnason missed from 12 yards, and Sterling then publicly called out his team-mate.
"We didn't expect the red card," Sterling told Sky Sports, reflecting on Kyle Walker's dismissal. "But it happened and we kept on playing our football. We kept trying to create chances and kept contact then we got the penalty in the end. We shouldn't have conceded that sloppy penalty in the end. But we got lucky in the end."
Some Liverpool fans accused their former player of disrespect, while others called for then-manager Jurgen Klopp to keep players away from England duty.
Earlier clashes with Gomez
This was not the first time Sterling and Gomez had clashed. In 2019, the pair had a dispute on the pitch during Liverpool's Premier League win over City and then clashed again during an England training camp, reportedly needing to be separated after an incident in the team canteen.
Sterling was dropped by international boss Gareth Southgate as a result and gave his side of things on social media. "Both Joe and I have had words and figured things out and moved on," he said. "We are in a sport where emotions run high and I am man enough to admit when emotions got the better of me. This is why we play this sport because of our love for it - me and Joe Gomez are good, we both understand it was a five to 10 second thing... it's done, we move forward and not make this bigger than it is. Let's get focus on our game on Thursday."
As for the on-field clash at Anfield, Gomez's father Augustus suggested Liverpool fans' chants of "there's only one greedy b*****d'" may have got to Sterling. However, he was proud of how his son behaved and confirmed Sterling had apologised.
"It is normal. Young people are very ambitious and very willing to win for their team and that is what happens. If Liverpool were losing, one of the players would be agitated as well," he told The Mirror at the time. "Raheem Sterling - it is not his fault. Fans were agitating him and he took it out because of his frustration. We all understand that; it is football, we are human beings."
