Brendan Rodgers explains Raheem Sterling omission

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed his reasons behind dropping Raheem Sterling from the side that were hammered 6-1 by Stoke City on Sunday.

The 20-year-old England international made a string of headlines earlier this week after his agent Aidy Ward claimed that his client was keen to secure a move elsewhere in the summer transfer window.

"I felt there's obviously been a lot going on in the past weeks in particular," Rodgers explained to reporters after the game.

"And I felt there were other players mentally better positioned to play in the game. It was as simple as that, really."

The defeat – which was the Reds' heaviest for 52 years – condemned them to a sixth-placed finish in the final Premier League table.