• Champions League

Liverpool spirit solid despite Sakho petulance - Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has played down Mamadou Sakho's act of petulance before the Merseyside derby and insists team spirit remains one of the team's strongest assets.

Sakho was left out of the Liverpool squad to face Everton and, as a result, left Anfield early, prompting an angry reaction from fans on social media.

The defender later apologised and Rodgers has also spoken to him individually since. Sakho did not travel with the rest of the squad for their Champions League clash at FC Basel but Rodgers said that was not the result of disciplinary action.

Rodgers on collision course over Sturridge

• Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says striker Daniel Sturridge will not be fit to play for England next week, even if he returns to Premier League action this weekend.
• In a controversial move, Rodgers has confirmed that he has asked England boss Roy Hodgson to leave Sturridge out of his squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia, with the outcome of that request certain to be closely monitored by rival Premier League managers.
• Click here to read more

"It's not something that we expect from our players," Rodgers said. "We have spoken, he knows the situation and he has apologised. We move on. He has been injured in a training session. He has felt something in his thigh, he has had a scan and it will be two to three weeks.

"This is a group that has based its success on being a team and its behaviour within the group. Whatever we have achieved has been down to the team. We are working hard to consistently win games."

Team spirit and togetherness have been elements of Rodgers' mantra since he took over at Anfield and helped the club to a surprise Premier League title challenge last season.

The Northern Irishman was adamant Sakho's actions will not have a negative effect on team spirit and unconcerned by his side's indifferent start to the season.

"It will take a wee bit of time but it [the reaction of one player] is never something that affects that team," Rodgers said. "We are working consistently hard to win games. We have not made as good a start as we would have wanted but there is a number of reasons why.

"We are integrating new players to a new culture and we have had injuries to key players. We have a big vision and an idea where we are going. It has been a difficult start but our performance against Everton at the weekend saw the intensity start to return."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd