Raheem Sterling has been dropped by England after an altercation with Joe Gomez at St George’s Park on Monday.

The Manchester City player will miss the Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro on Thursday after a heated confrontation with Gomez one day after Liverpool’s 3-1 win against the reigning Premier League champions.

"Unfortunately the emotions of yesterday's game were still raw," England boss Gareth Southgate said in a statement on the FA's website.

"One of the great challenges and strengths for us is that we've been able to separate club rivalries from the national team.

"We have taken the decision to not consider Raheem for the match against Montenegro on Thursday.

“My feeling is that the right thing for the team is the action we have taken.”

Inside details of the clash

Southgate continued by saying that the decision had been made with agreement of the entire squad.

Inside details of the clash have since emerged which brought about the decision to drop Sterling.

The Daily Mail report that the 24-year-old reacted aggressively after being greeted warmly by Gomez in the players’ canteen after both arrived at St George’s Park.

Gomez approached Sterling, who was sitting down in the canteen, from behind and leant over to shake his hand.

But he was shocked when Sterling attempted to grab him by the neck.

The rest of the England players were present and they initially thought that Sterling was joking.

However, it soon became obvious that the pair needed to be separated.

The incident surprised England’s Liverpool players who were there as Sterling and Gomez had made peace by embracing at the end of the Reds’ 3-1 on Sunday.

England sources are speculating that Sterling may have lashed out after being widely mocked on social media for coming off second-best physical in the initial confrontation with the Liverpool defender.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph claim that Man City’s Sterling aimed jibes at Gomez, asking if he still thought he was the “big man” and got into the 22-year-old’s face, trying to draw a reaction.

Sterling later apologised to Gomez, which was accepted, and the fall-out is closed as far as the pair are concerned.

However, Southgate has still made the decision to drop Sterling from the Montenegro game and it remains to be seen if he will play against Kosovo on Sunday.

The former Liverpool player has been a revelation under Pep Guardiola but he endured a difficult afternoon on his return to Anfield, where he was booed by the home crowd.

His frustration was evident when he pushed Gomez in an attempt to get the ball back late on.

Gomez responded by pushing Sterling in the chest and the pair then squared up, before being separated.

It’s clear that Sterling’s emotions from Man City’s defeat were still running high the following day.