Aston Villa have said a picture allegedly showing Stewart Downing posing with a Liverpool scarf is a fake. The picture circulated on Twitter on Tuesday morning and appeared to show the Villa winger holding the Reds scarf with Liverpool striker Andy Carroll and a fan.
It comes as Downing has been linked with a move to the Anfield club.
This afternoon an Aston Villa spokesman said Downing had assured the club the picture was a fake.
He said: "The picture is a fake. I've spoken to Stewie and he has assured me of that."
The spokesman added that Downing had told him he had posed with Carroll and the supporter, but had not been holding a Liverpool scarf, reports The Mirror.
