Reds pledge Gerrard support
30 Dec 2008 - 12:24:42
Liverpool have released a statement pledging to support Steven Gerrard after he was charged with assault and affray following an alleged fracas outside a nightclub.
Gerrard, 28, was one of six people arrested in the early hours of Monday morning following an altercation at a Southport bar which left one man needing hospital treatment for a facial injury.
The Reds skipper was released from Southport police station in the early hours of Tuesday morning after being charged and bailed alongside two others.
"Steven has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool for the last 10 years and the club will give him all the support he needs at this time," read a brief club statement.
Gerrard was out in Southport hours after he scored twice in Liverpool's 5-1 victory at Newcastle United on Sunday which kept them at the top of the Premier League table.
Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesman for Merseyside Police confirmed the midfielder had been charged after being held for almost 24 hours.
"Merseyside Police has charged Steven Gerrard, 28 years, of Formby, Sefton, John Doran, 29, and Ian Smith, 19 years, both from Huyton, Liverpool, with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray following an incident at Bold Street in Southport in the early hours of Monday, December 29," he said.
"The three men will be appearing at North Sefton Magistrates' Court on January 23."
Three other men who were arrested in connection with the incident were released on police bail pending further inquiries.