Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has opened up on his altercation with Raheem Sterling and subsequently being booed by his own team's fans on international duty with England.
Sterling clashed with Gomez on the pitch at Anfield during Liverpool's 3-1 win over Manchester City in November and although it was initially hoped that the flashpoint had been resolved, tempers flared again the following day when the pair joined up on international duty with England.
The row erupted again in the team canteen at the national team training complex at St George's Park.
Reports from the time said that Gomez attempted to shake Sterling's hand from behind and witnesses said they heard the 5ft 7in City winger ask the 6ft 2in Liverpool defender whether he was "still the big man."
John Cross wrote : “It is understood the Manchester City star then went to grab his team-mate before other members of the squad intervened.”
Gomez was left with a scratch on his face and Sterling was subsequently axed by Gareth Southgate from his side for the Euro 2020 qualifier at home to Montenegro.
When Gomez, who accepted Sterling's apology and supported the manager's decision to keep the Manchester City player in the squad came on as a substitute in that game he was inexplicably booed by some sections of the England crowd at Wembley.
The Reds ace told The Athletic : “It was a difficult period. “I enjoy football, it’s my passion, but there are a lot of things that come with it, like the limelight. That’s the thing that I didn’t enjoy.
“If anything it (the booing) has made me a bit more stand-offish.
“But in terms of the actual situation (with Sterling), what happened happened. We spoke. It was done. As a team it was done. So in my head it was done.
"It was just then that the game happened with the reception.
“I haven’t really processed it.
“With what happened brings experience. I went out to train and I knew that the first session after it came out publicly, eyes were going to be on me. I was never used to that before.
“So, good or bad, it was an experience.”
