Reina Out To End Real Record

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is hoping to finally break his losing streak at Real Madrid when they two sides meet in the UEFA Champions League.

The Reds travel to the Spanish capital for the first leg of their last 16 encounter next week and Reina is determined to enjoy success at El Santiago Bernabeu.

Reina has never won at Real's home during his time playing in Spain and he is also looking to exact revenge for his father who never enjoyed much success against Real while he was at city rivals Atletico Madrid.

"I have yet to win in the Bernabeu. In all the time I've played against them, I think I've managed only two draws," said Reina.

"But then of course it's a really tough place to get a result. That's always been the case. When my dad played against them in the 60s and 70s it was the same story. He also had a bad record against them.

"It won't be easy but we know we can do it, and that would be great for me and my family.

"Real are one of the best clubs in the world and if we did go out against them there would be no shame in it.

"But we will be doing our utmost to make sure that doesn't happen and I'm confident we can reach the quarter-finals.

"Every player wants to play in these massive games, and we feel we can do well there."

Reds Duo Wary Of Real

Xabi Alonso believes that Liverpool have to score at Real Madrid to give themselves a good chance of winning their UEFA Champions League tie.

Rafa Benitez's men travel to El Santiago Bernabeu next week and Spanish midfielder Alonso feels the La Liga outfit are better at the back under Juande Ramos.

The Reds' playmaker knows exactly what Los Merengues have to offer and recognised that an away goal could be crucial to their chances of triumphing.

"For us it is important that we score in the Bernabeu because that gives you something for the second game at Anfield and gives us more options to go through," he told Radio Marca.

"If we do not score then it could limit us for the return leg because if we then concede at home it will make things very difficult.

"I think it will be a very even tie and a great one to watch for the fans.

"Madrid have improved a lot defensively under Juande as they let in less goals and that will be something to think about.

"But we have good players and we expect to score and go through."

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina was also present with Alonso and he feels that things could be cagey as both sides, in his opinion, know how to defend better than they attack.

"I do not think that there will be many goals in the tie," he explained. "I am sure that they are in great form and it will be difficult to score against them.

"It will be very tight with few chances and the games will be decided in the details. Both teams are better at defending than attacking."

Steven Gerrard is facing a race to be fit for the first game and Reina hopes that the Liverpool captain makes it back in time to play.

"He will be doubtful until close to the game, but nothing has been decided. We hope that he recovers in time because he is a player that can win games," he added.

"I believe that he is not only one of the best players at Liverpool but also in world football."

UEFA Consider Liverpool FC Request Over Hillsborough Date Clash

UEFA are considering a request from Liverpool to move a Champions League match to avoid a clash with the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Liverpool have asked if the second leg of their quarter-final - should they reach it - can be brought forward from its currently scheduled date of April 15.

That day marks exactly two decades since 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives at Hillsborough before and during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool would like the game to be played on April 14, allowing players and staff to attend a memorial service at Anfield the following day.

The club have alerted UEFA to this potential clash but European football’s governing body will not make a firm decision until after the last-16 ties are played and the quarter-final draw made.

A UEFA spokesman said: "We have received a request and we will try our best to accommodate it, but we cannot guarantee at this stage that we will be able to."

Liverpool must first come through a two-legged tie against Real Madrid to reach the quarter-finals.

Xabi Alonso Gutted To Miss Liverpool's Manchester City Clash

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has passed the yellow cards threshold and will sit out the weekend visit of Manchester City.

Thus, he'll have to endure the game from the Anfield stands. 'Pool cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to stay in the hunt for the Premier League title, therefore, spectator Alonso is hoping for a more straightforward game than October's thrilling 3-2 comeback win at Eastlands.

"It's always frustrating to watch games from the stands but I have known for a while [that] I was likely to miss a match at some point and it has to be this one on Sunday," he told the club's official website.

"This game with Manchester City is going to be very important for us if we want to challenge for the title.

"Hopefully it won't be as dramatic as our game at City when we were two goals down at half-time. We had to play with a lot of belief in that second half and score three goals, which eventually we managed. This time it will hopefully be more comfortable.

"They are a good team and, even though they haven't got the best of away records this season, we know we will be in for a tough match."

Sir Alex Ferguson: Liverpool Are Manchester United's Title Rivals

Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't think that Chelsea will provide any major threat to Manchester United's drive for the Premier League title this season. Instead, he is viewing Rafa Bentiez's Liverpool as the main threat to his domestic ambitions.

"At this moment in time, Liverpool are our main challengers and our greatest threat," the Scotsman told The Manchester Evening News today.

Guus Hiddink has been appointed as temporary manager at Chelsea, but Ferguson clearly sees that making negligible difference to a title race his men currently lead by five points from Liverpool.

The gap to Aston Villa in third place is eight points, with Chelsea a further two points behind them, and Ferguson clearly views this as an insurmountable gap for the Londoners. Aston Villa remain something of an unknown quantity, whose lack of experience might tell in the run-in.

Ferguson has identified the period when United returned from Japan with the World Club Championship as key to the progress that they have subsequently made in climbing to the top of the table.

"We went to Stoke [December 26] and it was a lively pitch and we had just got back from Japan. But we scraped a result because we never gave in," the Scot added.

"We ended up with Ryan Giggs at left-back because we wanted to win the match. It was an important marker to lay down after coming back from Japan. We needed to win that game. Once we won that we have just gone on.

"Then I looked upon the West Ham match as our hardest away game in the run in. They had been playing their best football of the season and it is a tough place to go to.

"We had to play them at a great moment for them in terms of confidence and form so it was always going to be a big task for us. But the players delivered. We didn't lose our composure or nerve to play. The players know how to handle pressure."

Sielva Lining For Liverpool

Liverpool are understood to have first option on signing Espanyol’s 17-year-old attacking midfielder Oscar Sielva, according to Sky Sports.

The Anfield side’s agreement appears to stem from business done last summer when Albert Riera swapped his Barcelona surroundings for Merseyside.

Rafael Benitez is known to be keen on expanding Liverpool’s academy system as he looks to create a sustainable programme of development for young talent.

Sielva, who played against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly, is valued at around £2million.

Kuyt - Best Is Yet To Come

Dirk Kuyt has fired a warning to Liverpool's title rivals by suggesting the Reds have yet to hit top gear.

Rafa Benitez's side currently occupy second place in the Premier League standings, sitting five points adrift of leaders Manchester United.

The Anfield outfit have not been so well placed to launch a title charge since 2002, while they have failed to land the top-flight crown for 19 years.

However, Kuyt believes that long wait could be about to come to an end, with Liverpool set to hit their peak at a crucial stage of the season.

"It's right to say we have players who are just reaching their peak," the Dutchman told the club's official website.

"Steven Gerrard just seems to get better every season. Maybe he hasn't even reached his peak yet. He scores loads of goals and everyone can see how important he is. It's the same with Fernando (Torres) and a few others.

"We have a lot of young, talented players who have now been at the club for a long time.

"I think this is the best team I have played with at Liverpool."

Liverpool's next step on the road to potential Premier League glory sees them welcome Manchester City to Merseyside on Sunday.

The Reds have had two weeks in which to prepare for the game, having slipped out of the FA Cup at the hands of neighbours Everton, and Kuyt believes the enforced break will prove beneficial to Benitez's men.

"The manager gave us a few days off so I went back to Holland to see family and friends," he said.

"Hopefully it will be my last opportunity to go back this season, because that would mean we are doing really well.

"We're all ready for the season now. If we'd have got through in the FA Cup we would have been playing but we have to see this as an opportunity to be fresh for the games ahead."

Gabonse Starlet Linked With Anfield

Gabonese youngster Bruno Ecuele has reportedly become a target for Rafael Benitez, according to recent reports in the press.

Ecuele, 20, is currently on the books of French second division side SC Angers and has caught the attention of Premierleague scouts in recent weeks with some fine performances.

The young centre back has been linked with both Liverpool and Arsenal and Ecuele insists the interest surrounding him is flattering.

When speaking to skysports.com Ecuele stated 'It is fantastic to get noticed by huge clubs from the Premier League. It means I am doing well,'

'What I need to do is to concentrate on improving my game and see what happens.

He added, 'However, it would be a dream come true to play for a top team. Three years ago I was at FC105 of Libreville (in his homeland) and today I am linked with the best league in the world.'

Defensive Lapses Bring Liverpool Down To Earth

Coach Hughie McAuley is looking for a reaction from his players in Saturday’s Premier Academy League home clash with Crewe.

The Reds came back down to earth after their FA Youth Cup triumph over Chelsea as they were hammered 4-0 at West Brom last weekend.

McAuley’s men were second best throughout and conceded two goals in each half.

“It was a disappointing performance but that’s youth football for you,” he said.

“You have to take the good times when you beat Chelsea in the Youth Cup and the bad times when you get thrashed by West Brom.

“There were too many defensive lapses and we gave them too much space all over the park.

“They controlled the game and we never really got at them. It was just a bad day at the office for us - you get that sometimes when you are trying to develop youngsers.

“You just have to learn from it and move on. We’ve put a lot of hard work in this week to put things right.

“We need to get back to form ahead of the next round of the Youth Cup.”

The Reds sorely missed the attacking talents of Laurie Dalle Valle, James Ellison and Nathan Eccleston.

Dalle Valle (ankle ligaments) and James Ellison (back) missed out through injury, while Eccleston served a one-match ban.

David Amoo and Alex Cooper failed to take a couple of early chances and the defeat left the Reds still searching for their first league victory of 2009.

“We changed the team around and gave some game time to those in the squad who haven’t been playing regularly, but unfortunately the boys just didn’t get going at all,” McAuley added.

“West Brom were brighter and more up for the game than we were, so full credit to them. It was a bit of a hiding for our lads and we can’t say it wasn’t deserved.

“There wasn’t too much to shout about for us. Joe Kennedy and Thomas Ince did okay, but we struggled.”

The good news is that Dalle Valle and Eccleston are expected to return to action this weekend, while McAuley hopes to have Ellison back for for the FA Youth Cup quarter-final with Bolton at Anfield a week tomorrow.

Thomas Ince is part of John Peacock’s England under-17s squad for the Algarve Tournament in Portugal this weekend.

Ryan Babel: I Will Learn From Fernando Torres

Ryan Babel has told how he is hoping to put an indifferent season behind him – by becoming a Kop idol like Fernando Torres.

The Dutch forward has endured a difficult second season in English football and has found himself on the fringes of Rafa Benitez’s title challenging side.

But with the sale of Robbie Keane to Spurs having left the Reds boss short of attacking options, Babel is hoping to be given more opportunities to prove himself.

“With Robbie having gone to Tottenham that has increased my chances a little more,” said the 22-year-old.

“I feel that I am ready for more playing time so hopefully that will come.

“I have spoken with the manager and he has told me what my role can be in the future. If necessary, I will play as a winger, but I have made no secret of my desire to play as a striker at Liverpool.”

Babel was selected in his preferred central attacking role in Liverpool’s most recent game at Portsmouth.

Though the former Ajax man did not get on the scoresheet that day, he was happy that Benitez gave him a run out up front, and now he wants to repay his manager’s faith by proving his worth to the team.

And he is looking to learn from Torres as he endeavours to make the improvements he feels are necessary if he is to cut it as a top class striker.

He added: “I have to be realistic. I know Fernando is the number one striker, there is no doubt about that.

“But there are a lot of games and I want to prove that I can be a striker, too.

“Fernando has wonderful movement and that is what makes him the player he is. It’s definitely an area where I can get better, so I look at him in training.

“My shooting with my left foot could be better, too, and Fernando is good with both feet so I have been watching how he positions his body to strike the ball.

“I have to keep telling myself that I am only 22. it is easy to forget that.

“It is good for me that I have been playing more as a striker because that is where I feel most comfortable.

“But I have time on my side and there are more players in the squad who have more experience and are good in that role, too.

“As long as I am playing, though, I am happy being anywhere on the pitch.”

Rafa Benitez Urges Liverpool To Forget About Real Madrid

The Liverpool boss wants his men to focus on the Premier League for the moment, and let the Champions League take care of itself.

Liverpool seem to have made domestic success their priority this season, with the ending of a 19-year wait for an English league title their main target rather than winning another Champions League.

Manager Rafa Benitez has today given weight to that supposition by urging his men to forget about next week's Champions League opponents Real Madrid for the moment, and keep their focus on the weekend's Premier League adversaries, Manchester City.

"The main thing for us right now is the game against Manchester City – that is very clear," Benitez told The Liverpool Echo today.

"This game has to be the priority because it is in the Premier League and we are in a good position and want to take three points.

"We have three days after we have played City in which we can look forward to Madrid but for now our focus must only be on the league."

Many of Benitez's squad were away on international duty last week, and the Spaniard feels that, coupled with a weekend of inactivity due to their recent elimination from the FA Cup by city rivals Everton, may have freshened them up a little, as they move into a crucial phase of the season.

"It was important for us that in our last game before the break we managed to get a win against Portsmouth because it is always good to produce a positive result in such situations," the coach added.

"Some of the players have been away with their countries since then and we have also had some time off with the break so this should mean that they will return with more energy.

"We are in a good position and our confidence is high, now we must look to build on what we have done."

Gerrard May Face Manchester City

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could make his return from a hamstring injury against Manchester City on Sunday.

The England midfielder suffered the tear in the Merseyside derby on February 4 and was initially expected to be out for three weeks - with the Champions League clash with Real Madrid thought to be his most likely target.

Now Reds manager Rafael Benitez, whose side rely on Gerrard's surging runs and goals from behind the striker, has opened the door for a potential return from the bench at the weekend.

The Spaniard said Gerrard had reacted well to treatment and was eager to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.

"He is improving. In these situations each day is important. He is working with the medical staff and is progressing.

"Normally he is a player who recovers quickly. He needs less time than other players," Benitez told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"I was surprised because the Spanish press said he'd play some minutes this weekend and then play against Real Madrid, but the truth is we don't know yet.

"Maybe he could be on the bench against City but we don't know.

"He wants to play every single game. He knows the game against City will be very important, and also the Real Madrid one too."

Carragher Eyes Top Spot

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool deserve a pat on the back for emerging as the main challengers to Premier League champions Manchester United but insists the Reds will not be satisfied with second place.

Carragher and his team-mates finished fourth in the table last season, behind United, Chelsea and Arsenal, but this term Rafa Benitez's side have emerged as genuine contenders to end a title drought which stretches back to 1990.

The Anfield outfit, however, will fall five points behind European and world champions United if the Red Devils secure home victory over Fulham on Wednesday night.

But with Liverpool still to travel to Old Trafford on 14th March, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1, Carragher feels the club remains well placed for a push at league silverware and insists overhauling Chelsea and Arsenal deserves high praise.

"There are still a lot of games to go so it's important everyone at the club remains calm," Carragher said in the Daily Express.

"United have got a bit of a lead on us at the moment, but if we can close that gap before we go to Old Trafford that would put us in a great position, especially if we are in form at the time of that game.

"A lot of people said at the start of the season that we needed to be in the title race at the end and at the very least be in with a fighting chance.

"We finished fourth last season, but we have risen to the challenge by overtaking Chelsea and Arsenal.

"Even though everyone at the club understands that it is not over by a long way, at the moment it looks as if it is going to be between us and Manchester United for the title.

"Overtaking Chelsea and Arsenal in the race is an achievement in itself already, and everyone should be proud of that.

"Now, hopefully, we can go one step further and win this title."

Liverpool Could Lose Seven Stars In Summer

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is set to face another summer without some of his top players with Spain and Brazil set to take part in the Confederations Cup in June.

Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Albert Riera and Pepe Reina are expected to be selected by Vincente del Bosque while Lucas Leiva and Fabio Aurelio are possible candidates for Dunga’s Brazil.

Arsenal are also likely to lose captain Cesc Fabregas for the South Africa based tournament which acts as a build up to the World Cup in 2010.

Egypt, New Zealand, Iraq, South Africa, Italy and the USA will also take part in the tournament which is scheduled for June.

Arranged every four years, the Confederations Cup is organised by FIFA and features the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (CAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, OFC, CONCACAF), along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host country, to bring the number of teams up to eight.

Speaking to FIFA.com, Godfrey Nkwane, one of the tournament coordinators stated:

"For us it is really mouth-watering to have the FIFA World Cup champions Italy, as well as Brazil coming to our city. It will bring excitement to the city and will really help our promotion of the tournament. You couldn't ask for better matches and our supporters will definitely fill the stadiums.”

Why Steven Gerrard Struggles To Have The Complete Love Of The Kop

Those who don’t go to Anfield on a regular basis are often surprised to see the matchgoing Liverpool fans’ attitude to Steven Gerrard. They expect admiration, love, a fawning devotion to the Liverpool captain.

Instead, there is an unsettling undercurrent of antagonism towards Gerrard, one that is fading as the years go by but can still rise up into hostility at the slightest excuse.

When they come across it, outsiders attribute the griping to Gerrard’s double flirtation with Chelsea - but the doubts in the Kopites’ minds go back farther.

Almost from the beginning, more than ten years back now, there were those who found Gerrard’s demeanour irritating. As soon as it became clear that here was a prodigious talent, the critics in the stands saw room for complaint. At times, the youngster appeared to be looking for the flashy ‘Hollywood’ pass when an easy ball was the preferred option.

It got worse after he was part of England’s 5-1 victory over Germany. Suddenly he was a national hero. Scouse supremacists are always naturally suspicious of English heroes.

Gerrard was earning the nickname ‘Stevie Me’. When he scored, he pointed to his chest frantically. When he was used on the right of midfield - which the Kop, almost to a man considered his best position - he seemed to sulk, yearning for the central role the media demanded.

And, in the big games, the alehouse tittle-tattle said, he disappeared. That meant, in simplest terms, he'd never destroyed Manchester United single-handedly. Yet, by the time Benitez arrived, he seemed to feel he was the dominant power at the club.

The perfect example of ambivalence to Gerrard came in Istanbul. After he scored Liverpool’s opening goal, he turned to rouse the crowd, gesturing with his arms for fans to turn up the volume. The volume rose, for sure, but there was an irritated growl behind it: we didn’t need lesson in support from him. Afterwards, he hogged the cup, with only Jamie Carragher wresting it away for any length of time. Not the Liverpool way. Not the work of a captain, either.

Then there was the flirtation with Chelsea. It was almost too much to bear to see a Scouser apparently determined to take Roman’s roubles. But he stayed. And since then, things have got better.

He’s matured. The arrival of Fernando Torres has removed some of the expectation and burden from him. He’s had more bounce about him on the pitch. Plus, his recent arrest has made this aloof and seemingly troubled lad from Huyton simpatico at last.

All things considered, he deserves the place at No 2 in the list of Liverpool’s greatest players - if you need a goal with the time running out, where else would you want to see the ball but at Gerrard’s feet. But he also deserves the acclaim and adoration of the Kop. It’s coming, it’s coming.

Everton Reserves 1 - 1 Liverpool Reserves

It was honours even in the mini-derby at the Halton Stadium last night.

Andy Holden’s side had been looking to complete a club hat-trick of wins following recent victories for David Moyes’s first team and Neil Dewsnip’s under-18s.

It looked possible when Scott Spencer scored a freak opener midway through the first half, but the visitors hit back immediately with the unfortunate Hope Akpan heading in at the wrong end.

With Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling now fighting for first-team places and Lukas Jutkiewicz and John Paul Kissock away on loan, Holden was deprived of experience.

It gave the bulk of Everton’s Under-18s side the chance to impress, alongside lone old-head Carlo Nash.

Three minutes in a neat interchange between Liverpool’s Dani Pacheco and Gerardo Bruna fashioned an opening for Victor Palsson. The right-sided midfielder beat Carlo Nash but James McCarten was well positioned to hack off the line.

Nathan Craig and Jay Spearing then took it in turns to lash speculative volleys off target.

A neat backheel from Spencer allowed Craig to cross from the left, but when the ball eventually fell for James Wallace, Reds keeper Martin Hansen did well to smother.

At the other end Dani Pacheco found Andras Simon unmarked in the box soon after but the save for Carlo Nash was simple.

However, as the half-hour mark approached the strangest of goals gave Everton the breakthrough. Receiving the ball from Spencer following an injury stoppage, Martin Hansen contrived to miss-control and allow the ball to trickle across the line.

But Everton’s lead was short-lived, Akpan glancing Pacheco’s free-kick into his own net just four minutes later.

Luke Powell, handed a late start following Tom McCready’s withdrawal looked to keen to make the most of the opportunity, providing a constant outlet down the right.

But the visitors continued to threaten, Pacheco cutting in onto his right foot early in the second half and fizzing a shot inches wide of the post.

Half-time appeared to have galvanised the hosts and Eunan O’Kane saw a bullet header tipped onto the crossbar by Hansen.

At the back the unfamiliar centre back pairing of McCarten and John Irving proved water-tight, while Seamus Coleman looked solid on his reserves home debut.

Twice Irving went close from Craig set pieces as Everton continued to probe. But the game petered out, both sides tiring, and understandably so, given the nature of the occasion.

And tired legs perhaps accounted for late openings for either side. With four minutes remaining Simon produced a fearsome shot on the turn only for Nash to muster a stunning reaction save.

It allowed Everton to launch a counter which resulted in the impressive Luke Powell hitting the upright – the woodwork forcing Everton to settle for just a share of the spoils.

Robben On A Revenge Mission Against Liverpool

Arjen Robben has some old scores to settle when Real Madrid meet Liverpool in the first knockout round of the Champions League, which returns next week.

The former Chelsea winger will come up against a side he has twice lost to in the semi-finals of the competition, with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved his penalty in a shootout two years ago.

The Dutch international is eager to get revenge for the heartache suffered in 2005 and 2007, starting iith the first leg in the Bernabeu on February 25 before Real make the trip to Anfield 13 days later.

The game at Anfield in 2005 was infamous for the "ghost goal" scored by Spanish midfielder Luis Garcia - then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho still refuses to concede the ball crossed the line - and two years later the Premier League clubs could only be separated by penalty kicks. After the tie ended 1-1 on aggregate, Reina saved from Robben and Geremi as Liverpool took the shootout 4-1 on Merseyside.

"I want to beat Liverpool because I've lost against them twice in the semi-finals," Robben told Radio Marca. "Also (Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe) Reina saved a penalty of mine and I would like to take another and score this time."

Robben is in the form of his career at the moment after finally settling in Spain and is expected to be a crucial figure in the Round of 16 tie, although he missed the 4-0 hammering of Sporting Gijon on Sunday with a slight muscle strain.

"Liverpool are a very strong team, they have a coach who is very good tactically, and they know how they have to play in particular games," he added. "The most important thing will be to score goals at the Bernabeu.

"We have to win by more than two goals because the return at Anfield will be tough."

Reds Register Brazilian Interest

The agent of Brazilian wonderkid Keirrison has claimed that Liverpool have enquired about the Palmeiras forward.

Keirrison, 20, has been on the radar of a number of top European clubs after finishing as joint top scorer in the Brazilian championship last season with 21 goals.

This season he has only underlined his growing reputation by scoring eight times in five appearances in all competitions, including three in the prestigious Copa Libertadores.

The reigning Brazilian Young Player of the Year currently plays for Palmeiras but his rights are owned by a company called Traffic Sports Marketing in a similar arrangement to the one that saw both Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano owned by Media Sports Investment.

Now a representative of TSM has claimed that The Reds have made an enquiry as to Keirrison’s availability, even if the latest talent to roll off the Brazilian production line will not be moving to Europe until the end of the year.

“We agree with Palmeiras that Keirrison will stay in Brazil until the end of 2009 because we want Palmeiras to fight for the Brazilian championship and the Copa Libertadores,” Roberto Benevides told the Italian press.

“We believe the technical merit and market price of the player may also double in this period.

“Major European clubs have asked about him: I am referring to Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

“Roma? No, we have never received any call from the Giallorossi.”

More Charges In Gerrard Bar Case

Two footballers have been charged over the same incident in a Merseyside bar which saw Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard accused of assault.

Accrington Stanley's goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin, 28, and midfielder Robert Grant, 18, have both been charged with affray, said police.

Gerrard, 28, was charged over the attack in the Lounge Inn in Southport in the early hours of 29 December.

The England player is on bail and due to re-appear in court on 20 March.

Gerrard appeared before magistrates last month, where he said he intended to plead not guilty to the charge.

Two other men, John Doran, 29, and Ian Smith, 19, both from Huyton, face the same charges as the midfielder.

Merseyside Police have also charged Paul McGrattan, of Linden Drive, Huyton, with affray and assaulting a police officer.

Mr. Grattan, along with the two League Two players will appear before North Sefton Magistrates Court on Monday.

Two other men, a 33-year-old from Huyton and an 18-year-old from Roby, Merseyside, remain on bail pending further inquiries.

A 34-year-old man from Southport suffered facial injuries in the incident at the Lounge Inn.

Liverpool FC Can Win Premier League Title Battle - Mauricio Pellegrino

Three-time title winner Mauricio Pellegrino believes Liverpool have the character to battle back and win the Barclays Premier League.

The club’s first team coach dismisses the notion they are out of the race as almost a third of the fixtures have still to be played.

Yet when Liverpool line-up against Manchester City on Sunday they could be eight points adrift of Manchester United.

The leaders host their game in hand tomorrow against Fulham and then welcome Blackburn to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are building up a head of steam but Pellegrino - who won La Liga with Valencia (twice) and Barcelona - is adamant the picture could change.

"Everyone in our squad has personality. We have shown in difficult moments this season that we have character," he told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"We have a very good squad - all of them are very professional. I think the players are strong enough.

"They have to prove something in every single game but I am not worried about the pressure. For me, the best thing you can do in professional sport is fight for titles.

"I am sure we can get to the last two or three weeks and still have possibilities. In the end, the difference between first and second will be the small details.

"For me, the most important thing is to stay calm. We have to think about the next game, not the last game in May."

Asked if he was confident manager Rafael Benitez would eventually end Liverpool’s long wait for a title, Pellegrino added: "Why not?

"We can’t predict the future but I am sure that Rafa is one of the best trainers in the world and he is here at Liverpool.

"I am really happy here because the atmosphere at Melwood is very good. The most important thing is that Rafa is open minded.

"He listens to the opinions of every one of his staff, and he’s also a hard worker."