What led to the altercation between Sterling and Gomez?

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Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez Altercation Stemmed from On-Field Emotions and Post-Match Tension

Raheem Sterling acknowledged that his emotions, heightened by the intense Liverpool versus Manchester City match, led to a brief physical confrontation with teammate Joe Gomez. The incident, described as lasting only five to ten seconds, occurred when the players met at the England camp the day after Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory over Manchester City. As a consequence, Sterling was subsequently dropped from England's Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro by manager Gareth Southgate.
Post-Match Tension Fueled the Altercation

The altercation between Sterling and Gomez followed a significant Premier League fixture on November 10, where Liverpool defeated Manchester City 3-1. This result extended Liverpool's lead over Manchester City to nine points in the league standings. Sterling himself stated that he and Gomez "had words" upon meeting at the England camp, indicating that the raw emotions from the high-stakes match contributed to the incident.
On-Field Clash Preceded the Camp Confrontation

The tension between the two players was not solely confined to the England camp. Reports indicate that Sterling and Gomez had a physical clash on the field during the closing stages of the Liverpool versus Manchester City match itself. This on-field friction likely carried over and exacerbated the situation when they reconvened in the national team environment.
Sterling Acknowledged Emotional Response and Resolution

Sterling took to Instagram to address the situation, admitting that "emotions got the better of me." He emphasized that both he and Gomez had since "figured things out and moved on," describing the event as a minor, short-lived occurrence. Despite the brief physical confrontation, Sterling stressed that their relationship remained good, and they understood the nature of competitive sport where emotions run high.
Managerial Action and Squad Unity

England manager Gareth Southgate made the decision to exclude Sterling from the squad for the match against Montenegro. Southgate cited the need to separate club rivalries from the national team and stated that the emotions from the previous day's game were still "raw." He indicated that the decision was made with the agreement of the entire squad, underscoring a collective effort to maintain team unity and focus on their upcoming fixture.

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What led to the altercation between Sterling and Gomez?

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