Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was arrested early yesterday in connection with an alleged assault at a bar that left a man hospitalized with facial injuries.

The England midfielder was detained by police at 2:30am in Southport along with five other men after the brawl and remained in police custody for questioning, a person close to the investigation said on condition of anonymity. British police do not publicly name suspects unless charges are brought.

A 34-year-old man was taken to hospital with facial injuries that are not believed to be life threatening, police said.

The disturbance happened outside the Lounge Inn - a modern restaurant that becomes a nightclub later in the evening - in the seaside town less than 16 kilometers north of Gerrard's home in Formby in Merseyside.

Gerrard was celebrating Liverpool extending its lead to three points atop the Premier League standings after he scored twice and set up another goal in a 5-1 victory at Newcastle, while second-place Chelsea was held 2-2 by Fulham.

"Merseyside Police is investigating an assault that took place in the early hours of Monday ... on Bold Street in Southport," police said in a statement, without naming Gerrard. "Six men were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault on Lord Street."

The other men held are not believed to be soccer players, but are from the Huyton area of Liverpool, where Gerrard grew up and was spotted by Liverpool scouts at the age of eight playing for Whiston Juniors.

Liverpool FC, which next faces Preston on Saturday in the FA Cup, had no comment.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily December 30, 2008)