Steven Gerrard has pleaded not guilty at Southport magistrates' court to charges of assault and affray.

The England international, 28, has been granted bail after being charged at the end of last month in connection with a nightclub brawl in Southport.

He appeared in court alongside two other defendants, Ian Smith and John Doran, who are both from Huyton. All three men were granted bail and are due to return to court on March 20.

Gerrard had been one of six people arrested following an altercation which left one man needing hospital treatment for a facial injury.

The incident occurred after Gerrard had scored twice in Liverpool's 5-1 victory at Newcastle United.