Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was arrested today after a brawl at a
night-spot.

The England midfielder remains in custody after officers were called to an
incident in Bold Street, Southport, at about 2.30am.

Merseyside Police said the 28-year-old and five other men were arrested on suspicion of assault.

A police spokesman said:'"Merseyside Police is investigating an assault that took place in the early hours of Monday December 29 on Bold Street in Southport.

'At around 2.30am this morning officers attended a disturbance at a licensed premises on Bold Street.

'Six men were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault on Lord Street.

'The men, four aged 33, 31, 29 and 19, who all come from the Huyton area, a 28-year-old man from Formby and an 18-year-old man from Litherland remain in police custody.

'A 34-year-old man from Southport was taken to hospital with facial injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.

'Anyone who saw anything or who has any information is asked to call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'

Gerrard went out with friends following his side's 5-1 victory over Newcastle at St James' Park.

he Reds captain, who scored twice, yesterday hailed his table-topping Liverpool side as the best he has played in.

He called on everyone at Anfield to enjoy being top of the Premier League after Liverpool extended their lead over Chelsea thanks to the emphatic win.

Speaking after the game, Gerrard said: 'I think we've got to enjoy it. We will play our best football if we are relaxed and composed.

'I think it's important for us to remain humble, keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard.'

Gerrard was arrested after a disturbance at the Lounge Inn, a modern restaurant
close to the junction of Bold Street and Stanley Street.

The eatery converts into a late night club venue with live music and DJs. No-one was available to comment today.

The well-to-do seaside town is a popular venue for wealthy footballers looking for a night out.

A Liverpool FC spokesman said the club would not be commenting on the alleged
incident.

Lying motionless on the frozen ground after being thrown from her horse, Louise Bonsall could hear screaming.

Then she realised it was her own voice. Just seconds earlier she had been riding Isobelle, her flighty chestnut mare, when the horse reared up and unseated her.

Isobelle lost her balance and more than half a ton of horse flesh crashed down on top of Louise’s slender frame.

There was a moment of searing, white-hot agony, and then numbness.

Images of her family – England footballer Michael Owen and their eight-month-old daughter Gemma – flashed through Louise’s mind.

In that split second of horror and panic, she feared she was paralysed.

Despite marrying one of the country’s most famous footballers three years ago, Louise Owen is not a stereotypical WAG.

You won’t see her falling out of nightclubs, nor does she regard shopping and cosmetic surgery as competitive sports.

Her priorities are her family first and her horses second. She and her husband guard their privacy fiercely – in fact Louise, now 28, has never before given an interview.

Shy, modest and with a quiet intelligence, she has decided to speak out in her capacity as patron of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre in Halton, Lancashire, to draw attention to the plight of horses – a subject close to her heart.

It is nearly 20 years since Louise first met Owen at Rector Drew Primary School, in Hawarden, Clwyd, North Wales.

Later they both attended Hawarden High School where they became teenage sweethearts.

While Michael was a brilliant young footballer, attracting the attention of Premiership scouts from the age of ten, Louise was always horse-mad.

‘I started riding when I was about seven,’ she says.

‘My brother Andrew and I had riding lessons at the weekends. That’s where the passion grew. It quickly fizzled out for Andrew but I really enjoyed it. I started spending the weekend at the riding school, helping around the yard, and then I started exercising friends’ horses for them.’

Her parents, businessman John and Sue, bought Louise her first horse, a Welsh cob called Rolo, when she was 14.

‘They finally gave in to me begging them every day for a horse,’ she laughs.

‘Every morning I would be at the yard at 6am mucking out and as soon as I finished school I would be back there until it was dark.’

In July 1995, when Louise was 15, she suffered her first serious riding accident. ‘My Mum and Dad had gone on holiday to Florence but my brother and I stayed at home,’ she recalls.

‘I was thrown off my horse, landed on a big pile of bricks and broke my femur. It just snapped like a carrot. I was in hospital on traction for 13 weeks. My parents had to drive all the way back.

‘It was boring because I couldn’t get out of bed. I missed a lot of school and spent most of my time revising for my GCSEs and watching telly. In the end we decided to sell Rolo to an instructor I knew. I cried, although I knew he was going to a good home.’

Despite her unwanted stay in hospital, Louise went on to pass her GCSEs, leaving school in July 1996. She took a GNVQ in business and finance at Deeside College in Clwyd, but gave up riding temporarily.

‘It was just a timing thing – maybe age and money as well. It’s not cheap to own a horse.’

After leaving college, Louise joined credit-card company MBNA.

Michael, meanwhile, quickly established himself at Liverpool and in February 1998, aged 18, he became the youngest player to play for England in the 20th Century.

But it was his unforgettable goal against Argentina in that summer’s World Cup that propelled him into the football stratosphere.

Still, by footballers’ standards, his tastes remained modest – his new home was a £200,000 property in Hawarden.

Indeed, for years Owen eschewed most of the trappings of an international superstar, his only extravagance being the purchase of five houses, all in the same street in Ewloe, North Wales, for his parents, brothers and sisters.

In June 2002, Michael and Louise moved into a £1.6million 19th Century Grade II-listed house in Northop, North Wales, which they renovated with the help of Michael’s sister Lesley, an interior designer.

Michael also invested in his first racehorse, Treble Heights. He now owns eight thoroughbreds.

During this time Louise did her best to avoid the publicity that inevitably came with being a high-profile footballer’s girlfriend by enrolling on an equine science course.

‘My Mum had bought a horse called Woolly, which we shared, and I got the bug again,’ she recalls.

‘I decided it was something I wanted to do. But I didn’t finish the course because I became pregnant with Gemma.’

Within a couple of months of her birth in May 2003, Michael bought her Isobelle, a Belgian Warmblood that had been bred for showjumping.

In January 2004, Louise was schooling the ‘stroppy’ Isobelle while Michael was watching.

When he then returned to their house, Louise continued her work.

It was then the accident happened – as without warning Isobelle reared up, lost her balance and landed on top of Louise.

‘It was very painful, but afterwards I just felt numb,’ she says.

‘I was terrified of moving in case I had hurt myself badly. It crossed my mind that I could have been paralysed but I could move my feet, which gave me a degree of comfort. Michael heard me screaming and raced back.’

Michael accompanied her in the ambulance to the Countess of Chester Hospital, not knowing whether she would ever walk again.

‘I had broken my back in two places, my hip and my pelvis in five places, but the breaks weren’t displaced so I was very lucky,’ says Louise.

She spent three weeks in hospital while Michael cared for their daughter.

‘Gemma was too young to understand I wasn’t there.

‘It was probably harder for me being away from her. My Mum used to bring her in during the day and then Michael would bring her in for the evening.

‘We kept a baby-walker in my room and Gemma used to bomb up and down the corridors.’

Louise’s main fear was that she might not be able to give birth naturally again, but this proved to be unfounded.

The couple’s son James was born in February 2006 and daughter Emily arrived last October.

‘I do get some backache but so do all mothers,’ Louise says. ‘I get a little pain in my hip but nothing I can’t live with. I’m not sure whether it is linked to the accident or it’s because I carry three kids around.’ She was also worried initially about how the accident would affect her riding.

‘The consultant said, “You should be able to ride by July,” but actually I was back in the saddle in March. I was nervous but when I sat down everything felt fine and I was away.’

Move to Spain

The accident marked a turning point in Louise’s life. Instead of focusing on training her dressage horses, she decided to devote much of her energy to rehabilitating

former racehorses. ‘The accident made me realise how lucky I am. I felt I wanted to do some charity work and give something back.’

Louise became a patron of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, the only charity in Britain dedicated to the welfare of former racehorses.

It rehabilitates and retrains them, before finding them a new home.

The charity’s operations director, Nicola McDonald, says: ‘Four to five thousand horses leave racing each year for a variety of reasons, such as age, injury or lack of ability. We are a safety net for them because these are flighty, spirited horses. They are not like a steady cob and so they are unsuitable for novice riders.

‘We assess them and then, after a settling-in period, slowly bring them back into work and accustom them to being ridden. Louise obviously has a great affinity with and love for horses. She’s a lovely, down-to-earth girl and we’re lucky to have someone like her dedicated to raising the profile of the cause.’

Louise says: ‘Each horse is treated individually and the charity finds them a home that is right for them. None of the horses that come to the centre are sold. They are loaned to experienced riders, who are used to thoroughbreds and horses with unpredictable characters.’

Seven months after her accident, Owen joined Real Madrid and the family moved to Spain.

‘I enjoyed certain aspects of it but we both found it hard being away from family and friends and the place we had lived all our lives,’ she recalls.

‘Some people can adapt well to different cultures and travelling, but it wasn’t right for us.’

Owen’s spell in Madrid would prove to be fairly short. In August 2007, he moved to his current club Newcastle United in a £16million deal.

At first Louise moved to the city, but since the arrival of James and Emily, she and the children have lived at their Flintshire manor house.

‘The children are quite a handful,’ says Louise. ‘I have a nanny who comes in the mornings during the week. Michael can’t commute every day but he comes back on his days off. I lived with him in Newcastle for the first couple of years but then Gemma needed to start full-time education and we had to make a decision about where to live. We have more of a support network here. It’s not ideal but it’s not that bad either.’

While Michael is in Newcastle, Louise cares for the children, their dogs Poppy, a Staffordshire bull terrier, and Tank, a French bulldog, and, of course, their eight horses.

These include Etienne Lady, a brood mare named after the French city where Michael scored his famous goal against Argentina, and two of their retired racehorses – Speciali and Talk To Mojo.

Louise’s mother, Sue, is a regular visitor to their home and Gemma already owns two ponies.

‘She loves riding,’ says Louise. ‘Hopefully she’s her mother’s daughter.’

The Owens spend much of their time together at home but also enjoy trips to the races.

‘We love Chester because it is our local course and we will go to nearly all the meets during the year,’ says Louise.

‘It’s nice to go to Royal Ascot, too. It’s lovely to put your fancy hat on. If there’s an England game and Michael’s playing I see the other wives and girlfriends I know, but I don’t see them much socially outside football. Most of them are in London and I am in the depths of Wales. We all have busy lives.’

Owen is expected to concentrate on his racehorses when he retires from football.

‘People have written and gossiped about my gambling for years and I will happily confirm that I love the buzz from backing a winner,’ he said recently.

‘They are probably less aware of how much time and energy I have dedicated to learning about the sport.

‘I never have a flutter'

‘If I was to appear on Mastermind – not that I am volunteering – flat-racing would be my specialist subject. It is also likely to be my career once I have finished scoring goals.’

‘Racing is very much his thing,’ agrees Louise.

‘I’ve been brought into it through him, although we obviously shared a love of horses. Some of our horses we breed ourselves. Others we buy at the sales. Michael has a lot more knowledge about the pedigrees and bloodlines whereas I have more of an eye for the horse’s movement. We’re a good team.

‘We have a trainer, Nicky Vaughan, who runs the day-to-day business, but Michael and I often spend mornings at the gallops. We both believe in looking after ex-racehorses. I can rest easy if I know that a horse we’ve raced, which has no career left in the game, has a good home for life.

‘It’s our responsibility to rehome it, whether it is here or elsewhere. That’s why I became involved in the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre.

‘You are never going to change the racing industry. A lot of owners don’t have a real interest in horses – they are in it for the love of racing. When the horse is not winning any more they want to send it to the sales. That’s just the way it goes.

‘But things are improving and there is now a lot more awareness of the need to care for racehorses once they have retired.’

However, there is one interest the couple do not share – gambling.

‘I never have a flutter. I love watching the horses in the parade ring and trying to guess which is going to win. But I never give Michael tips.’

Louise has donated her fee for this article to the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre. Donations can be made on 01524 812649 or visit www.thoroughbredrehabilitationcentre.co.uk.

Aston Villa’s Steve Sidwell and his wife Krystell are celebrating the birth of their second son, born on December 3.

Steve is a massive fan of Rocky films, and they’ve named the new bubba Rocko as a result.

Steve is also a bit of a romantic: he has a tattoo of his wedding vows to Krystell written on his back, which he got done a few days after his honeymoon.

FYI: Steve and Krystell met when they were eight years old, and started dating when they were 15.

Krystell sent Steve a message before his big goal against Everton last week:

“My wife gave birth to a baby boy last Wednesday and before the game she sent me a text saying ‘Score a goal for him.‘ It was an early one so hopefully he was awake!

I’ve always believed that if your life is good outside football, you come to work with a smile on your face.“

Steve and Krystell have another son, named Harry, who was born in April 2006.

Congratulations!

(c) Kickette

He's arguably the world's biggest fashion icon - so it was no surprise to see David Beckham looking at his sharp and sartorial best for the cameras in Milan.

The England football star arrived in the fashion capital today to be unveiled at the San Siro stadium ahead of his three-month loan spell with AC Milan.

Wearing a purple and brown patterned scarf, a dark blue sweater, jeans, white trainers and a big pair of sunglasses the midfielder looked relaxed as he was swarmed by photographers leaving a clinic where he underwent a medical examination this morning.

He passed it easily, according to Italian news agencies.

The former England captain, 33, also met the Italian press for the first time at
at the San Siro stadium tonight wearing a smart pinstripe suit, a white shirt and skinny black tie.

He said: 'I'm really happy to be here, it is a great honour. I hope to add to the team, I hope to give everything that I've always given in my career and it's a huge honour.

'I've played for the biggest club in England, the biggest club in Spain and now I'm going to be playing for the biggest club in Italy.

'I've been very lucky in my career to have done that, and I'm just going to enjoy it because I think to be given this opportunity is incredible.'

Beckham hopes the move will help his chances with England's Italian manager Fabio Capello.

He will be on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy until March, when the United States domestic season resumes.

Beckham, who cannot play competitive matches with AC Milan until the transfer window opens in January, will salute fans on Sunday ahead of AC Milan's Serie A match against Udinese.

He will also reportedly meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who owns AC Milan.

For Beckham the work of resuming his playing career will start after the Christmas holidays when he joins his new teammates at a training camp in Dubai on December 29.

Beckham is joining Milan to help him stay in shape and potentially prolong his career with England's national team during the Major League Soccer off-season, but his arrival will also feature a celebrity element that has become part of the iconic footballer's entourage.

After his medical, Beckham went to meet his pop-star wife Victoria at the Four Seasons Hotel in the heart of Milan's exclusive shopping district, just steps away from the Versace and Armani fashion houses.

'Posh Spice' has recently signed on as the spokeswoman for the new Armani lingerie line.

Italian dailies reported that the couple was lunching with representatives of competing fashion house Dolce&Gabbana, which reportedly sent over a wardrobe selection for Victoria ahead of the evening press conference.

However, not everyone is enamored with Beckham's arrival.

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said he doesn't understand the point of Beckham's temporary move.

'This Beckham thing seems very strange to me. Perhaps it would've been better and more right if he stayed for the whole season and signed a proper contract,' Gattuso said this week. 'To be here for six weeks to two months seems pretty strange.'

AC Milan is tied for third in the Italian league.

(c) Daily Mail

TODAY World Cup winner Thierry Henry bares his soul as never before. He tells of the pain of his divorce, his love for his daughter and how his parents’ control kept him out of jail.

“LOVE is necessary, very important,” says Thierry.

“A divorce is never easy, even more so with a daughter in the middle.”

He is still suffering the aftermath of his painful split from wife Nicole Merry, a British model.

It came as he left for Barcelona after nine glory-filled years with Arsenal in north London.

His divorce was finalised a year ago this month.

He says: “What I admire in a woman is that at first sight she will know she’s my soulmate.

“When I was young I looked at other things, but not any more. It’s difficult to find it, much more so in my case, difficult emotionally.

“When I say the truth or what I feel it’s difficult to understand me because I’m a complicated person.

“Before I got angry for nothing and now I contain myself more.

Thierry is a doting dad to three-year-old daughter Téa, despite the marriage break-up.

He says: “Until you have your daughter in your arms you don’t know what it means.

“It’s indescribable. You just can’t understand it if you don’t have kids.

“Before I only thought of my career and in dedicating all my time for my own things — and suddenly your entire scale of values changes.

“It’s good to go deep into other things. It’s tiring to talk only about football.

“Talking about other things, the city, my roots, what I think, that is how you can get to know a man.

“I was born in Les Ulis, a suburb a few kilometres from Paris. I learnt many things on the streets. If I could choose I would relive everything I lived there.

"I am who I am thanks to my father. I saw very hard things in my childhood but fortunately I had parents that were very straight.

“I couldn’t understand why my friends could go out at night. I could see them from the window. It frustrated me.

“While they were having fun outside I was asking my mother why I couldn’t go out. It hurt a lot.

“Almost all of my friends from that time are now in prison. It wasn’t easy to get out of that life.

“If you’re a father you have to be hard in a suburb like that.

“Our suburb was complicated but not a slum.

“There are many youngsters who don’t listen to their parents, and that is a problem. My parents were very hard and that’s why I was able to get ahead.”

Thierry’s mother is called Maryse, his father Antoine. His two brothers are Willy — much older, and Dimitry — much youger.

The star says: “My father left home when I was eight and I left the neighbourhood, although I never stopped seeing him.

“When I came out of Les Ulis I saw clearly that my life should go in a straight line.

“I understood that I had to do something. I was alone at home with my mother, Willy was in the army. The people don’t understand why I’m a loner but it’s for that reason. I was alone at home at 11 years old.

“I felt like I was an only child. I couldn’t go out and that is why I like being alone.

“Fortunately football was an escape route. I started playing thanks to my dad. I was only trying to make him happy.

“He took me to the ground and I could see that when I played he was more happy than me.

“Every child wants to do something for their father, but back then football was not my priority in life.

“In England they asked me why I didn’t celebrate my goals. I will explain something to you.

“I was ten years old. I finished a game in which I scored six goals. I got into my father’s car and I saw he was very serious.

“I asked him what had happened and he asked me if I was pleased. I answered yes but he started counting out my mistakes, that I had missed a cross in the tenth minute, I missed a chance in the 14th minute and another time I failed to control the ball. Every game was like that.

“Ever since then when I scored a goal I thought of what I had done wrongly previously in the game instead of celebrating.

“My father didn’t talk about the good things and I grew up thinking only about how I could improve in the areas I had weaknesses.

“At times people think I’m bored but it’s not the case. What happens is that I don’t understand euphoria.

“I play football for 15 years now and it’s difficult for me to understand euphoria. I’m very tranquil. I can’t understand why people think that footballers are different. We’re not. Yes I am a footballer but I have good days, bad ones, with problems like everybody, joys and sadness.

"I like being alone. It reminds me of my youth. It’s a way of life. I like being with my friends but my life has always been like this.

“A man looks to find himself and when I was trying to form myself, despite being born in Les Ulis, I didn’t forget that my parents came from Martinique and Guadeloupe. I knew the music, the culture, the food, my parents spoke to me in Creole. One always looks for one’s roots and when I travel there I find peace. When I go I feel naked.

“Nobody looks at me. When we won the World Cup with France I went to Guadeloupe.

“There were celebrations but the look on people’s faces is different. It’s normal. The day I arrived there was a meal, we played the bongos, everyone came to my house to sing — but the next day it was all over.

“I go out barefoot in shorts, on a Vespa. It’s paradise.

“For me these are incredible moments of profound life.

“I am afraid of dying. It’s something that happens to everyone but it scares me. I make a living from my passion which is football but it’s not easy to get there.

“I feel privileged because there are people who have a job for which they get up at five in the morning and on the way to work they’re thinking they don’t like what they do.

“It’s my sport, my life but you can’t judge a person only from their work. When I play I can’t smile. My education was hard and I keep the image of my parents inside me.

“Every decision I’ve made in my life, I’ve made on my own. You have to be the man you carry inside.

“It is difficult but you have to do it. Now I think that last year was very tough. I arrived in Barca without talking, injured, in the middle of a separation, it was not easy at all.”

Thierry hinted that his retirement may not be far off.

“My career will finish soon and being a striker things go quicker.

“I’ve never run as much as I do at Barcelona. Physically I’m well and how much I run shows it but it’s difficult to go to hotels, trips.

“Playing and travelling tires you a lot. Those who say I’m finished are not far from the truth.

“My career will finish one day or another. “Look, it’s 15 years I’ve been playing football at the top level. Not one year up and the other down.

“And this comes at a cost.”

(c) The Sun

LIVERPOOL'S Christmas parties were once stuff of legend.

These days, however, they're pretty tame - even the WAGS are invited.

Though CLAUDINE KEANE did her best to liven things up by wearing this eye-popping green and blue number, right.

Perhaps the Irish model was making the most of her night, as it could be her first and only Xmas do with the Reds, what with husband ROBBIE being heavily linked with a move away from Anfield in January.

Skipper STEVEN GERRARD arrived with wife ALEX CURRAN, while JERMAINE PENNANT, DIRK KUYT, MARTN SKRTEL and LUCAS also brought their partners to Circo.

Go back to the fancy dress theme next year lads, looks more fun...

(c) The Sun

As a lover of fashion, Victoria Beckham was probably right behind her husband David's decision to sign for AC Milan in Italy's couture capital.

She may not be too pleased, however, to learn that one of the journalists lining up to interview him about the latest twist to his career is the glamorous IIaria D'Amico.

There have even been suggestions that the Beckham camp turned down an exclusive 'one-to-one' with the reporter because of her looks.

Indeed the former England captain is holding an open press conference on his arrival in Milan rather than the exclusive interview requested by Miss D'Amico's bosses at Sky Sports.

Miss D'Amico, a 35-year-old graduate, got her big break at the 1998 World Cup and has a huge following among Italian football fans.

Her interview with Beckham will be screened as part of a documentary profiling the 33-year-old.

A spokesman for the footballer said last night: 'Ilaria D'Amico will still be doing an interview with David.

'Originally Sky wanted to do an exclusive interview but we felt the press conference should be open to everyone and wouldn't want to restrict it to one broadcaster.

'He will do a separate interview with Sky afterwards. It's rubbish to suggest we would veto a presenter because of her looks.'

Beckham has signed for AC Milan on a three-month loan deal from his U.S. club, LA Galaxy.

The Beckhams are to be given a welcome tour of the city by their fashion designer friends, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The couple are said to have been given the £1,000-a-night penthouse suite at the exclusive Chedi Hotel near AC's San Siro stadium.

Beckham is hoping the move will help him keep in shape and earn him a call up to Fabio Capello's England squad during his Californian side's close season.

He needs only one more cap to equal Bobby Moore's record for an England outfield player of 108.

Beckham will begin training with his Milan teammates on December 29 and could be in line to play his first game on January 11.

The good news for his 34-year-old wife is that Miss D'Amico is dating an Italian film director. Two years ago she was linked to Alesandro Moggi, the son of Juventus football club president Luciano.

Earlier this month she won popular acclaim by urging her fellow Italians to oppose a television tax proposed by prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

(c) Daily Mail