Brendan Rodgers defends Raheem Sterling over penalty

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Raheem Sterling does not go to ground too easily after he won a controversial penalty for his side against Stoke City this afternoon.

Sterling was awarded the spot kick early in the second half following a challenge from Marc Wilson inside the box, allowing Liverpool to regain the lead having given up a 2-0 advantage just before the break.

Rodgers has admitted that the decision was a "soft" one from referee Anthony Taylor, but rejects the notion that Sterling could earn himself a reputation for diving.

"I don't think he's in that bracket. Goodness me he is a young boy who gets kicked left, right and centre and we got good fortune," PA quotes Rodgers as saying.

"The defender doesn't make contact with the ball but does the man and Raheem is running at such speed. He is a fearsome competitor and he is not that type.

"He has had many decisions gone against him in his young career, ones where he has had dead-cert penalties. I don't think he has gone down easily. Contact was minimal but the pace he is going at puts him over."

Liverpool went onto win an action-packed match 5-3 to move back into the top four of the Premier League table.