Six co-defendants of England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday to being involved in bar brawl,leaving the 29-year-old soccer star to stand trial on charges related to the fight. The Liverpool captain was arrested on Dec 29 2008 after police were called to the Lounge Bar nightclub in Southport,north of Liverpool,in northwest England. At a court hearing in April,Gerrard pleaded not guilty to a charge of affray in relation to the brawl. As the trial started on Tuesday,five of his co-defendants pleaded guilty to affray,and another admitted a lesser charge of threatening behaviour,the Press Association reported. Gerrard signed a two-year contract extension in April that will keep him at Anfield until at least 2013,and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said the club are fully behind their captain.
