Gerrard pleads not guilty

Liverpool star Steven Gerrard (L) leaves Liverpool Crown court in Liverpool on Friday. Gerrard pleaded not guilty to the charge of being involved in a nightclub fight.Photo: AFP

England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard pleaded not guilty Friday to being involved in a nightclub fight.
Gerrard, 28, denied a charge of affray when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.
He is accused of being part of a group that injured businessman Marcus McGee, 34, at the Lounge Inn nightclub in Southport near Liverpool, northwest England, in December last year.
The Reds captain appeared in court on the day he signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at Anfield until 2013.
Gerrard, wearing a dark blue suit, appeared alongside six other men who also denied affray in a case allegedly stemming from a confrontation as Gerrard was celebrating Liverpool's 5-1 defeat of Newcastle United.
There had been rumours that the trial would be moved out of Liverpool because of Gerrard's position as the club's captain.
But Judge Henry Globe ruled the case would remain in the city and said careful consideration would be given to jury members' interests.
The judge asked the lawyers involved whether his own interest in football -- and visits to Liverpool's Anfield stadium -- could prejudice the trial, but they had no objections.
He said: "I want to make it quite plain, my own position, I want it to be clearly understood.
"I am not a season ticket-holder, nor regular attendee at Anfield, but it would be right to say I have been a visitor at Anfield as a guest on occasions.
"I have a general interest in football and watched many football matches, though not live, with many different clubs not just Liverpool."
Gerrard and the other defendants were given bail with conditions and were ordered not to contact witnesses nor enter the Lounge Inn unless accompanied by a legal representative.