• QPR 2-3 Liverpool, Premier League

Rodgers draws line under Sterling England saga

Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool were lucky to beat QPR at Loftus Road © Getty Images

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says there is no issue between him and Roy Hodgson following the England controversy which has surrounded Raheem Sterling.

Sterling played the entirety of Liverpool's thrilling 3-2 victory against QPR on Sunday a week after Hodgson claimed the winger had told him he felt too "tired" to start England's Euro 2016 qualifier in Estonia last weekend.

The saga prompted plenty of back-and-forth between both camps; Hodgson questioned the coaching system at Liverpool before Rodgers issued a quick defence, while several former England internationals such as Paul Scholes also gave their view on the situation.

Redknapp: Naivety cost us a point

• QPR manager Harry Redknapp took heart from his side's gut-wrenching defeat to Liverpool on Sunday and admitted he could not fault his players' efforts.
• "That's the best I've seen the team play since I've been here. We were naive. You take the point today because, in our situation, it gives us all a big lift," Redknapp said.
• "We kept coming back. I just felt we were fantastic today. You organise with a minute to go, thinking we'll take a point, we ain't going to get beat whatever happens. To throw the result away, having worked so hard.
• "Everywhere I thought we were fantastic. Bobby Zamora for 70 minutes or so was fantastic. Today we went after them all over the park and we won our battles in 90 percent of positions but in the end we got done for being naive.
• "You can only do what you can do. I still feel like we're going to be OK. I'm really positive. Richard Dunne was outstanding in the back. We were solid, but naivety cost us."

However, following Liverpool's victory at Loftus Road - which Hodgson had attended, Rodgers said there was no problem between him and the national team manager.

"No, we don't it is all gone, it has been way blown up," Rodgers told BBC Sport. "Roy Hodgson and I speak often, he is a good man. My focus is on my players now and preparing them for the next game."

Rodgers was pleased with the contribution of Sterling, whose added-time pass to Mario Balotelli was turned into his own net by QPR defender Steven Caulker, thus earning the away side all three points.

Sterling, a youth product at QPR before he left for Liverpool in 2010, attracted criticism from the west London crowd during the game but Rodgers said it's something the 19-year-old to get will have to get used to.

Rodgers added: "Good players get booed. That is something Raheem Sterling might get from time to time.

"The kid loved QPR in his time here, he decided to leave, he was courageous to come up north and has developed since he came to Liverpool. He has gone on to be a full international player, a player from London who loves QPR, and does everything for Liverpool. His speed and penetration is so important for us."

Like his captain Steven Gerrard, Rodgers was quick to admit he thought Liverpool were lucky to beat QPR.

Eduardo Vargas' two late goals had the hosts edging towards a creditable draw, only for Caulker to put through his own net in the fourth minute of added time.

And Rodgers told Sky Sports: "QPR certainly did not deserve to lose. We were lucky to get the win, but we showed tremendous character. We were a bit better in the second half but QPR definitely deserved something from the game.

"In the first half we had no rhythm, we did not pass the ball, there was no speed in the game, but Joe Allen and Phillipe Coutinho coming on gave us a technical lift and we started to create more. Raheem Sterling was outstanding in his running and in his desire. Overall, we were fortunate."

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