Raheem Sterling 'hippy crack' video: 'You saw the way he played, I don't think it was a distraction,' says Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers to talk to forward after Sterling filmed apparently inhaling laughing gas

Tom Sheen
Tuesday 14 April 2015 04:38 EDT
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(Getty Images)

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he does not think Raheem Sterling apparently inhaling laughing gas is a "distraction" but does not think it's something the forward should be doing.

Just days after allegedly being pictured smoking from a shisha pipe, video footage - obtained by The Sun newspaper - showed Sterling apparently inhaling nitrous oxide, or 'laughing gas'.

The video shows Sterling collapsing in his living room - the legal high has potentially fatal side effects.

Speaking after his side's 2-0 win over Newcastle, the Liverpool manager said it was not something he thought Sterling should be doing, but said that "young footballers make mistakes".

"I will speak to Raheem and we will deal with it internally. I don’t think the incident was a distraction for him, you saw the way he played – the kid is very strong minded, he should have had a hat-trick tonight and his performance was outstanding," he said.

"For me it is not something he should be doing. We want players here who are super professional but we know too that young footballers make mistakes."

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