Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been accused of throwing the first punch in a street brawl involving a former neighbour of the midfielder.
Businessman Paul Lloyd told Preston Crown Court that the ex-England skipper was the "aggressor" in an altercation, which allegedly took place outside Woodward's bar in Chapel Lane last August.
Mr Lloyd is accused of blackmailing Gerrard with CCTV footage, which was obtained by off-duty policewoman Helen Jones and later ended up in the hands of the footballer's former neighbour.
According to the Liverpool Echo, in court, Mr Lloyd claimed that Gerrard and 11 others attacked him outside of the venue.
The 35-year-old added: "It showed me on my own getting assaulted by 12 people, with Steven Gerrard being the aggressor and throwing the first punch. All his friends thought it was right to kick and punch me for four minutes."
Former Merseyside Police officer Ms Jones is alleged to have acted on behalf of others intent on blackmailing the Liverpool star with the CCTV footage.
The court heard that Gerrard, who played in Liverpool's Champions League 2-2 draw with Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria last night, tried to defuse the situation.
Mr Lloyd, who has stated that he was forced to move out of Formby after receiving "death threats", claimed that the midfielder's friend Lee McPartland tried to 'sort out' the situation by offering him money. body check tags ::
