Court told Gerrard attacked nightclub reveller like a professional boxer

London, July 22 (ANI): A British court has been told that Liverpool football star Steven Gerrard 'totally lost it' during bar row, attacking a nightclub reveller "with the style and speed of a professional boxer" after arguing with him over a CD player while celebrating a crucial win in the Premiership.

Gerrard, 29, allegedly unleashed a succession of uppercut punches - apparently captured on CCTV footage - after arguing with Marcus McGee, 34, over his choice of music at the Merseyside bar.

The star was "astounded" however, when businessman McGee refused to hand over control of the music system, the court heard.

"Not many people on Merseyside, or indeed anywhere else, would refuse a request from Steven Gerrard but McGee did," The Sun quoted David Turner, QC, as telling the Liverpool Crown Court.he incident in the Lounge Inn, Southport, happened within hours of Liverpool beating Newcastle United 5-1 to retain their Premiership lead.

Gerrard had scored two goals in the match on December 27 last year and so he and a group of male friends were in particularly high spirits.

They visited two pubs before moving on to the Lounge Inn - a favourite haunt - where they drank and danced in the restaurant area. Another party, made up mostly of staff and their friends, was also in the bar.

Turner told the jury that at about 2 a.m., Gerrard spoke to McGee about the music he was choosing for the nightclub's sound system.

He allegedly did so "in an arrogant way", requesting the play list McGee was working off with words to the effect "Here y'are, lad; give me that, lad".

"There can be no doubt that this refusal astounded Steven Gerrard.

"He walked away back to his party but the CCTV shows how much his mood had changed.

"He was no longer the centre of that high spirited party.

"He was clearly walking around pondering, musing over what had happened - about the man who said 'no' to Steven Gerrard."

Six minutes later the footballer walked over to the end of the bar where McGee was sitting on a stool. He allegedly confronted him with the words: "Who the ---- do you think you are?"

In the CCTV footage, McGee, a company director, is seen standing up, leaving the two men "head to head in the sort of hostile confrontation that is often seen between professional footballers."

According to Turner, Gerrard had "clearly lost his cool" and within moments other members of his party moved in to intervene.

The first of these, John Doran, 29, pushed Mr McGee away from his friend "but could not resist" following through with his right elbow into the businessman's face.

Turner went on: "We say that at this stage Steven Gerrard totally 'lost it'. Almost immediately after the blow from John Doran, Steven Gerrard joined in the attack with a succession of well-aimed uppercut punches delivered with the style and speed of a professional boxer rather than a professional footballer."

Ian Smith, 19, another of Gerrard's friends, joined in the attack, with both him and Doran kicking McGee. (ANI)