Steven Gerrard ‘punched victim with speed of a professional boxer’

Liverpool captain faces trial alone as co-defendants plead guilty over brawl at nightclub in Southport

Steven Gerrard at Liverpool crown court for the start of his trial. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

“The Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, punched a man in a bar with the style and speed of a professional boxer during a row over music, a court heard today.The England international allegedly “totally lost it” and launched an attacked on Marcus McGee, a 34-year-old businessman, after the victim refused to hand over control of a CD player to the footballer, a jury at Liverpool crown court heard.The court heard that the 29-year-old midfielder was with friends at the Lounge Inn in Southport, Merseyside, in the early hours of December 29, following his team’s 5-1 trouncing of Newcastle, when he clashed with McGee, who was with another group.The attack was captured on the bar’s CCTV. Gerrard denies affray.David Turner QC, prosecuting, said Gerrard asked McGee for a card controlling the CD player, by saying: “Here y’are lad. Give me that lad.” But McGee objected to his attitude and the expression ‘lad’.

Turner said: “Not many people on Merseyside, or indeed anywhere else would refuse a request from Steven Gerrard, but Mr McGee did”There can be no doubt that this refusal astounded Steven Gerrard. He walked away back to his party, but the CCTV evidence shows how much his mood had changed. He was no longer the centre of that high-spirited party.”He was clearly walking round, pondering, musing over what had happened, about the man who said no to Steven Gerrard.”The prosecution say six minutes later, he returned to the bar, approached McGee who was sitting alone at the bar and confronted him with the words: “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“Steven Gerrard had clearly lost his cool – he was very angry with Marcus McGee.”One of Gerrard’s friends. John Doran, pushed McGee away and elbowed him in the face. The prosecution claims Gerrard then “totally lost it.””Almost immediately after the blow from John Doran, in fact within seconds, Steven Gerrard joined in the attack with a succession of well-aimed uppercut punches, delivered with the style and speed of a professional boxer, rather than professional footballer.”Ian Smith, another member of Gerrard’s party, joined in. Doran and Smith then kicked McGee.

Gerrard was pulled away from the fight by the bar manager and was restrained. McGee was seen with his face , as he sat at the bar with his girlfriend. The prosecution says the violent incident “must have been very frightening to those ordinary members of the public present in the Lounge Inn that night.”Turner described Gerrard as a word class footballer who is “a star”. He added: “Wherever you go in Liverpool and indeed the world, there are little boys proudly wearing the Liverpool shirt with No 8 and the name Gerrard onthe back of it.”The prosecution do not say claim Gerrard is normally an arrogant man or that he is a bully. But what we say is that, that night he just lost his self control and joined in an attack which should never have taken place. He let himself down.”

When interviewed by the police later that night, Gerrard agreed there had been an exchange of words concerning the music but said Marcus McGee had been aggressive.He said he had no intention of having a fight but when McGee stood up and they started arguing, he believed that McGee was about to hit him so he punched him on the side of the head. He thought he had struck the first blow in the fight and hadn’t been aware of his friend striking him with his elbow.Turner told the jurors it may be a case where CCTV evidence is crucial and possibly more use in deciding what happened rather than the recollection of witnesses.”On this occasion, Steven Gerrard’s fists, not his feet, did the talking. This was never self-defence in 100 years.”The trial continues.”

Eriksson managed Manchester City for one season in 2007/08

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is in talks with Notts County about becoming director of football, BBC Radio Nottingham understands.

“The Magpies, who were recently taken over by a Middle-Eastern consortium, and Eriksson’s agent Athole Still are refusing to confirm his involvement.Earlier newspaper reports had linked Eriksson to the club’s managerial role.The 61-year-old, who spent five years in charge of England, was sacked as coach of Mexico in April.BBC Radio Nottingham’s Colin Slater said: “Claims that Notts are to appoint Eriksson as manager are wide of the mark.

“It is far more likely Eriksson will be brought in as director of football.” Ian McParland has been kept on as manager of the Magpies under the new regime.

However, former Manchester City manager Eriksson is not the only big name to be linked with the job.Slater added: “My understanding is that Eriksson is not the first high-profile personality to be linked with the newly created post as director of football.”Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has also been in the frame.”Following Eriksson’s dismissal in Mexico, he had been linked with a return to the Premier League with Portsmouth”