Gerrard detained after nightclub brawl

The England international was one of six men held after a fight outside a late-night bar in Southport, Merseyside.

The venue's DJ, a 34-year-old local man, required hospital treatment after suffering facial injuries.

Gerrard, 28, was at the restaurant and bar - which turns into a nightclub - with friends to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 victory against Newcastle.

After the game on Tyneside, Gerrard, who scored twice, hailed his table-topping side as the best he has played in.

But several hours later he was apparently caught up in an altercation outside the Lounge Inn in Bold Street. Police were called and arrested six men on suspicion of assault in nearby Lord Street.

The town centre business remained shut on Monday but evidence of a fight inside could be seen through the windows. Spots of blood were clearly visible on the floor, along with shards of broken glass.

Gerrard's wife Alex Curran, 26, left a coffee shop close to the police station in Southport where the father of her two children was being questioned. She refused to answer reporters' questions as she walked to her Bentley car and drove off towards Liverpool.

The sister of the Lounge Inn co-owner, Dario Curcillo, said the footballer was in the club to celebrate his team's win over Newcastle. She said: "As far as I know he comes here regularly and it was just a normal night at the bar. I don't know anything about what happened last night."

A Liverpool spokesman said the club would not be commenting on their captain's arrest.