Steven Gerrard was left out of the first XI in Liverpool's narrow 1-0 win over Stoke City.

There have been reports of a rift between Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers.

“Just to set the record straight media talk of a fall out between us 2 is NONSENSE ..have a nice Sunday,” he wrote on Instagram, accompanying a picture of him and Rodgers in training.

Gerrard entered the game as a late substitute. 

Rodgers had preferred Lucas Leiva in the anchor midfield position that Gerrard has recently occupied as he sought to help plug holes in a leaky defence, as well as handing a rest to his captain who had been a virtual ever-present.