Gerrard wife confronted by burglars

Alex Curran, a columnist with the Daily Mirror, was left shaken but not injured in the incident, which took place as Gerrard played in a Champions League game against Marseille.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said four men entered the property in Formby, Merseyside, just before 9.30pm and stole items of jewellery. She said forensic examination of the property was taking place and house to house inquiries have begun.

Ms Curran and another woman were in the house at the time.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating a confrontational burglary which took place at around 9.30pm (on Tuesday). Four men wearing dark clothing, hoods and balaclavas, entered the property and stole items of jewellery. We cannot confirm the nature of the confrontation.

"The female resident, and another woman who was in the house at the time, were left shaken but uninjured."

Police denied reports that a gun or a knife was used in the robbery, saying: "No weapon was seen."

It has not been revealed whether the couple's two children, Lilly-Ella, three, and one-year-old Lexie, were also in the property at the time.

The robbery is the latest in a string of burglaries at the homes of Merseyside players during high-profile football games.

Previous Liverpool victims were Dirk Kuyt, Jerzy Dudek, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Florent Sinama-Pongolle. The home of Everton player Andy van der Meyde was also targeted last year.