Brendan Rodgers refused to use Raheem Sterling’s contract saga as an excuse for Liverpool’s horror show at Arsenal.
The Merseysiders were blown away by the Gunners at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime to leave their top four hopes in tatters.
But Rodgers was adamant that the intense speculation over Sterling's future ahead of the big game, not helped by an unsanctioned interview given by the starlet, played no part in his side’s 4-1 defeat.
The 20-year-old won a second-half penalty for Liverpool, which Jordan Henderson converted, and Rodgers felt he was his side’s standout performer.
Asked if the Sterling situation had played a role in the disappointing display, Rodgers told BT Sport, "No, not really. I thought Raheem was outstanding today, in fairness the kid's done great today.
"It's not distractions, we were just poor defensively. You see from our record the last six games we haven't conceded away from home. It's just a disappointing day when you concede bad goals, you're always going to be up against it against a team that's obviously got good confidence."
Liverpool's misery was compounded by a late red card for Emre Can, adding to their defensive woes, but Rodgers felt the German had been unlucky to get a second yellow card for what appeared to be a scissor challenge, with his manager saying he had slipped.
"In all fairness, he's not that type of player," Rodgers said. "It's a wonderful surface here, but it's actually quite greasy, quite slippy with the way they water it. He's tried to reach around the back with the right foot but then slips with his left and then it looks like a scissor challenge, but I know him well enough to know he's not like that."
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