Liverpool first-team coach Mike Marsh has backed the club's approach to training after the Reds were criticised by England manager Roy Hodgson over their handling of Raheem Sterling.

The Three Lions boss admitted that midfielder Sterling had asked to be rested ahead of their victory over Estonia on Sunday, which stoked a debate regarding how the Reds prepare their players.

However, Marsh has staunchly defended the club's approach to training.

The Reds first-team coach told The Mirror: "Our fitness programmes have been well documented.

"We try to recover the players as best we can to prepare for the game. We have a couple of days' recovery after the game and we work with the group of players for the next game.

"We know it's a tough fixture list with the amount of games and the quality of the opposition and the more players we have available, the better."

Liverpool return to action on Sunday with a trip to Queens Park Rangers.