Tweet
Rafael Benitez offers Steven Gerrard his full support
Russell Jenkins
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;}Oliver Kay's analysis I Profile: Steven Gerrard | Newcastle 1 Liverpool 5: Gerrard's class proves telling
Planning a safe night out
Steven Gerrard will return to training with Liverpool this morning after Rafael Benítez called him yesterday to promise the club’s full support in his bid to clear his name.
Gerrard and two friends, John Doran and Ian Smith, were charged with assault and affray in connection with an alleged fracas involving a 34-year-old man during a disturbance at the Lounge Inn in Southport during the early hours of Monday. The three men were bailed to appear at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court on January 23, four days after Liverpool play Everton at Anfield.
Benítez, the Liverpool manager, was surprised to hear that Gerrard had been caught up in the alleged incident, but he assured his captain by phone that he has the club’s full support. Gerrard is said to have felt dejected after spending much of the previous day in police custody, but he was grateful for the call from Benítez.
Related Links
Multimedia
There is no threat of disciplinary action or being stripped of the captaincy unless Gerrard is found guilty of the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. After the squad was given a day off yesterday, the England midfield player will return to training eager to turn his mind back to football and keeping Liverpool on course for their first league title since 1990.
A club statement read: “Steven has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool for the past ten years and the club will give him all the support he needs at this time.” The FA was more reluctant to offer its unconditional backing, but a spokesman confirmed that Gerrard’s England place would not be under threat unless he was convicted of a serious criminal offence.
Although Alan Smith, the Newcastle United forward, was dropped from the England squad in 2003 during investigations over a bottle-throwing incident while playing for Leeds United, the FA now treats individual cases on their own merits.
Liverpool officials have been assured by Kenny Dalglish, the club’s former manager, who was in the bar and spoke to Gerrard shortly before the alleged incident, that the player was not drunk.
Gerrard has been offered the backing of his agent, Struan Marshall, and his family, while there is not thought to be any prospect of losing either of his main commercial deals, with adidas and Lucozade Sport, which bring him a total of about £750,000 a year in addition to his £5.2 million salary from Liverpool.
Steve Martin, chief executive of M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment, said: “Steven Gerrard is known as a model professional and someone that kids look up to, so I think the first reaction people have with something like this is that it is out of character for him even to be connected to it. He has a certain image, squeaky-clean but with a kind of edge, that makes him appealing to sponsors. I would be surprised if his main sponsors did not stand by him.”
After the incident at the Lounge Inn, Gerrard was arrested and questioned along with five other men, including Bobby Grant, the Accrington Stanley winger. Three of the men were released, including Grant, but Gerrard, Doran and Smith were charged.
Benítez is pondering a move to sign Glen Johnson, the England full back, from Portsmouth, as well as Emile Heskey, the Wigan Athletic forward. Portsmouth, who are under pressure to sell players, have yet to receive any official contact from Liverpool, but a £6.5 million bid is expected after the transfer window opens tomorrow.
Russell Jenkins
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;}Oliver Kay's analysis I Profile: Steven Gerrard | Newcastle 1 Liverpool 5: Gerrard's class proves telling
Planning a safe night out
Steven Gerrard will return to training with Liverpool this morning after Rafael Benítez called him yesterday to promise the club’s full support in his bid to clear his name.
Gerrard and two friends, John Doran and Ian Smith, were charged with assault and affray in connection with an alleged fracas involving a 34-year-old man during a disturbance at the Lounge Inn in Southport during the early hours of Monday. The three men were bailed to appear at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court on January 23, four days after Liverpool play Everton at Anfield.
Benítez, the Liverpool manager, was surprised to hear that Gerrard had been caught up in the alleged incident, but he assured his captain by phone that he has the club’s full support. Gerrard is said to have felt dejected after spending much of the previous day in police custody, but he was grateful for the call from Benítez.
Related Links
Multimedia
There is no threat of disciplinary action or being stripped of the captaincy unless Gerrard is found guilty of the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. After the squad was given a day off yesterday, the England midfield player will return to training eager to turn his mind back to football and keeping Liverpool on course for their first league title since 1990.
A club statement read: “Steven has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool for the past ten years and the club will give him all the support he needs at this time.” The FA was more reluctant to offer its unconditional backing, but a spokesman confirmed that Gerrard’s England place would not be under threat unless he was convicted of a serious criminal offence.
Although Alan Smith, the Newcastle United forward, was dropped from the England squad in 2003 during investigations over a bottle-throwing incident while playing for Leeds United, the FA now treats individual cases on their own merits.
Liverpool officials have been assured by Kenny Dalglish, the club’s former manager, who was in the bar and spoke to Gerrard shortly before the alleged incident, that the player was not drunk.
Gerrard has been offered the backing of his agent, Struan Marshall, and his family, while there is not thought to be any prospect of losing either of his main commercial deals, with adidas and Lucozade Sport, which bring him a total of about £750,000 a year in addition to his £5.2 million salary from Liverpool.
Steve Martin, chief executive of M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment, said: “Steven Gerrard is known as a model professional and someone that kids look up to, so I think the first reaction people have with something like this is that it is out of character for him even to be connected to it. He has a certain image, squeaky-clean but with a kind of edge, that makes him appealing to sponsors. I would be surprised if his main sponsors did not stand by him.”
After the incident at the Lounge Inn, Gerrard was arrested and questioned along with five other men, including Bobby Grant, the Accrington Stanley winger. Three of the men were released, including Grant, but Gerrard, Doran and Smith were charged.
Benítez is pondering a move to sign Glen Johnson, the England full back, from Portsmouth, as well as Emile Heskey, the Wigan Athletic forward. Portsmouth, who are under pressure to sell players, have yet to receive any official contact from Liverpool, but a £6.5 million bid is expected after the transfer window opens tomorrow.