Steven Gerrard is to deny assaulting a man during a nightclub brawl, a court heard on Friday. The Liverpool captain will plead not guilty to affray and assaulting company director Marcus McGee, 34, last month.

Gerrard, 28, appeared before North Sefton Magistrates in Merseyside over his alleged part in a brawl at the Lounge Inn, Southport.

Gerrard, a father of two young daughters who is married to model Alex Curran, spoke only to confirm his name and address and say he intended to plead not guilty along with the other defendants.