‘I don’t feel guilty’ – Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel insists David de Gea stamp was not deliberate

Martin Skrtel maintains he did not deliberately ‘stamp’ on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea despite being found guilty of violent conduct.

The Liverpool defender was hit with an FA charge following Sunday's 2-1 defeat to United at Anfield after a late challenge on De Gea.

Skrtel had argued there was no malice on his part, but an independent panel threw out his appeal and upheld his three-match ban.

However, the 30-year-old, who will miss Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle, plus an FA Cup quarter-final replay at Blackburn, has continued to profess his innocence.

"It feels strange because we appealed against those charges and still I was hit by a three-match ban," he told his personal website martin-skrtel.com.

"I didn't want to stamp on him. It was an accident and I didn't do it on purpose. I don't feel guilty.

"It was a long ball and he went towards me and I wanted to jump over him. Simple as that."

Skrtel will be joined on the sidelines by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will also serve a similar three-match ban after his moment of madness saw him sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute for the second half after stamping on United midfielder Ander Herrera.