Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has reacted angrily to claims from Brendan Rodgers that he is not fully committed to the cause.
Rodgers openly questioned Downing's performances to the media earlier this weekend, and challenged the England international to produce the goods in a Reds shirt.
Downing told reporters that he believes Liverpool boss Rodgers should have kept his thoughts private between the pair.
He said: "I was upset and you'll have to ask the manager what he meant with that quote. I always try my best.
"Bravery is a lot of things. If you want tackling and running around bustling, that's not my game. But bravery is also taking the ball when you're losing and creating things. That's what I try to do.
"I'm disappointed. Yet if that's how the manager sees it, there's not a lot I can do about it.
"I just have to keep working hard and do what he tells me to do. I have to perform on the field and get my head down."
Downing has struggled to nail down a place in the first team at Anfield this season, and has regularly had to settle for a place on the bench behind youngsters Raheem Sterling and Fabio Borini.
Liam Power
