Centre-back Martin Skrtel has denied the FA's charge for an alleged stamp on Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea in Liverpool's 2-1 loss on Sunday.

In the latter stages of the game, the Slovakian's studs appeared to land on the Spaniard's legs as he charged down the ball inside the United box.

Skrtel was given until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge, issued on Monday morning.  

No action was taken during the game by the referee Martin Atkinson, who sent off Steven Gerrard for a stamp on Ander Herrera earlier in the game, but he may not have seen the incident in normal time.

Skrtel is supposedly believed to maintain that the coming together was accidental and will likely receive a response from the governing body on Wednesday.

If the 30-year-old is found guilty, he could face restrospective punishment in the form of a three-game ban. The FA could also add an extra one game to the ban if the appeal to the original suspension is seen as "frivolous". 

A three-match ban would see Skrtel miss the Reds' Premier League fixtures versus Arsenal on April 4th, and a home game against Newcastle United on April 13th,  as well as his side's FA Cup quarter-final replay at Blackburn on April 8th.

The Liverpool defender was supported by his boss Brendan Rodgers after the game. The Northern Irishman said: "I think that it’s towards the end of the game, he’s been pushed upfield, but I don’t think he caught him with intent.

"I think he’s trying to nick the final contact on the ball, and if he does that then he probably gets a penalty, so he’s stretching.

"The ball goes into the ‘keeper’s arms, and obviously he’s caught him after that. But he’s just trying to get a toe on the ball, and if he does that and gets brought down then it’s probably a penalty.

"I didn’t think it was on purpose, at all, but obviously when the ‘keeper gets the studs like that then it can be a bit painful for him."

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.