Gerrard arrested after bar-room brawl

By: Rob | December 29th, 2008

Steven Gerrard was arrested last night, just hours after leading Liverpool to a big win over Newcastle. Police confirmed that five men were being taken into custody after they attacked a 34-year-old man who was subsequently taken to hospital.

The Liverpool-born midfielder had put in a man-of-the-match performance against Newcastle, and waas presumably out ‘celebrating’. Details are obviously quite limited at the moment, but reports that the injured man was comparing Gerrard unfavourably with Frank Lampard are entirely unsubstantiated (I just made them up.)

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool have refused to comment on the situation, but it is interesting to note what the fall-out from this could be.

Just for a start it takes the shine of Gerrard-the-hero a little. Recently it has appeared that the Liverpool captain could do no wrong, and consistantly made teams of the year, of the season and so forth. Even if he walks away from this an innocent party, its still going to taint his reputation somewhat.

If it is the case that five men jumped one other guy, thats a cowardly, thuggish thing to do whatever way you look at it. Gerrard absolutely deserves his punsihment should he turn out to be guilty.

But of course, we shouldn’t go jumping the gun just yet – he’s only been taken into custody. We shouldn’t turn him into a latter day Joey Barton just yet.

Mind you, Liverpool will be praying he doesn’t suffer the same sort of fate as Barton – Liverpool sitting top of the league could do without losing their talismanic captain. Perhaps he’ll be able to play with an ankle tag – Jermaine Pennant could give him a few pointers.

If he is found to be guilty, will Liverpool strip him of his captaincy? Will he be treated by the nation in the same way as Joey Baron has been? Will it ruin his England prospects entirely?

More as it happens.