Liverpool have declined to comment on a photograph that has emerged of winger Raheem Sterling appearing to smoke a shisha pipe.
A picture of Sterling with the pipe became public via social media platform Snapchat over the weekend.
The photo was overlaid with a caption that read "1 down 3 to go," implying that there were more pipes to be smoked.
The Sunday Mirror claimed that the 20-year-old had inhaled on the pipe during a night out with friends in Liverpool.
However, it is not clear whether Sterling actually smoked the shisha -- a water-pipe in which fruit-scented tobacco is burned using coal -- or when the photo was taken.
Sterling has also made no public comment on the photograph.
Storm as Liverpool's Raheem Sterling smokes pipe as strong as 200 cigarettes http://t.co/s9rjzmEzgF pic.twitter.com/qvg24Bi4CY
- Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 11, 2015
The winger's long-term future at Anfield has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks, despite Liverpool's insistence that they will not sell him this summer.
Sterling confirmed in an interview with the BBC, broadcast on April 1, that he had rejected the offer of a new contract worth £100,000 a week.
The England international currently earns around £35,000 a week, on a deal that runs until 2017. Liverpool have been in discussions since last October to extend that contract until 2020, but Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward have postponed further talks until the end of the season.
A well-placed source has told ESPN FC that the player is waiting to see what offers come his way this summer.
Sterling was heckled by a fan when he appeared at the launch of next season's Liverpool home strip at Anfield on Friday.
The supporter shouted: "Make sure we see you in it next year."