Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has denied a Football Association charge of violent conduct for standing on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea . Video evidence was used to charge the centre-back , currently away on international duty with Slovakia , after television pictures highlighted the incident - missed by referee Martin Atkinson - in the last seconds of Sunday 's 2-1 defeat at Anfield . Skrtel chased a through-ball as 10-man Liverpool searched for a late equaliser but De Gea slid in to get there first and the defender continued his run and stood on the goalkeeper 's right shin . Martin Skrtel 's foot lands on David de Gea 's leg in the incident which saw the FA charge the defender . Skrtel will fight the violent conduct charge , claiming the alleged stamp was not intentional . Premier League : Arsenal away , April 4 . FA Cup Sixth round : Blackburn away , April 8 . Premier League : Newcastle at home , April 13 . A three-man panel of former elite officials were asked by the FA to review the footage independently of each other and there was unanimous agreement the offence warranted a red card . Skrtel was given until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge and has decided to contest it . The 30-year-old will argue the incident was accidental and not intentional . If he fails in his challenge , Skrtel will receive a three-match ban - which covers league games at Arsenal and home to Newcastle either side of the FA Cup quarter-final replay at Sky Bet Championship side Blackburn . Manchester United keeper De Gea takes exception to the contact from Skrtel at the end of Sunday 's match . A three-man panel of former elite officials reviewed the footage after it was n't seen by Martin Atkinson ( right ) Coincidentally , Skrtel could argue a precedent was set back in January when Chelsea striker Diego Costa was charged for a stamp on Liverpool 's Emre Can but escaped punishment for one on Skrtel himself . The Spain international stood on the defender as he slid in to make a tackle in a similar incident to Skrtel 's coming together with De Gea . The incident was looked at retrospectively using television evidence after both the Skrtel flashpoint and the stamp on Can were missed by referee Michael Oliver . Skrtel could argue a precedent was set in January when Chelsea striker Diego Costa escaped punishment for an alleged stamp on him that was reviewed on video after referee Michael Oliver missed the incident . Costa was however suspended for this contact with Skrtel 's team-mate Emre Can in the same match . 'Following a review of an incident during the game involving Costa and Liverpool 's Martin Skrtel , The FA will not be taking any further action , ' a statement from the FA said at the time . However , Skrtel 's hopes of succeeding appear slim . Costa appealed his charge for the offence against Can - with manager Jose Mourinho insisting both incidents were 'absolutely accidental ' - but was found guilty and banned for three matches . It led to Mourinho claiming there was a 'clear campaign ' against Chelsea .
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel with fight FA charge of violent conduct . Slovakian stepped on Manchester United 's David de Gea on Sunday . Skrtel was charged on video evidence after the incident late in the game . Three-man panel of former elite officials deemed it worthy of red card . Skrtel will argue that the incident in the 2-1 defeat was accidental .