The Liverpool captain will plead not guilty to affray and assaulting company director Marcus McGee, 34, last month following the Reds' 5-1 defeat of Newcastle.

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

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray along with John Doran, 29, and Ian Smith, 19, both from Huyton, Merseyside.

Gerrard was driven to the magistrates' court in Southport and had jogged up the steps dressed in a dark blue suit.

Dozens of photographers were kept back from the court entrance in a penned area.

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Nick Evans, prosecuting, asked for the case to be heard next on April 3 after a 10-week break to prepare it.

But after submissions from the defence solicitors, including Gerrard's Richard Green, the magistrates adjourned the case back to the court at Southport on March 20.

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.

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