Gerrard pleads not guilty to affray

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The Liverpool FC captain formally pleaded not guilty to affray when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.

Gerrard, 28, was accused of being part of a group that injured businessman Marcus McGee, 34, at the Lounge Inn, Southport, in the early hours of December 29 last year.

Asked how he pleaded, the father of two, dressed smartly in a single-breasted dark blue suit, said in a loud voice: "Not guilty."

He appeared alongside six other men who also denied affray, which stemmed from a melee after Gerrard celebrated Liverpool's 5-1 destruction of Newcastle United.

The Recorder of Liverpool Henry Globe QC adjourned the trial to July 20.

Because of Gerrard's standing as Liverpool captain, there had been discussion in legal circles about whether the trial would be moved to another city.

But Judge Globe, saying careful consideration would be given to jury members' interests, kept the case in Liverpool.

The seven defendants were given bail with conditions not to contact witnesses nor to enter the Lounge Inn unless with a legal representative.

As Gerrard was at court, his manager Rafael Benitez announced he had agreed a two-year contract extension to 2013.