Gerrard gets backing from Reds boss Benitez
Gerrard has received the full support of his manager
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Wednesday, 31, Dec 2008 06:31
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has offered captain Steven Gerrard his support after speaking with the midfielder today.
Gerrard was arrested, along with five other men, in the early hours of Monday morning following an alleged fight at a bar in Southport, Merseyside.
The club have already issued a statement giving the England international their "full support" but Benitez, back at training for the first time in two weeks following surgery, has offered the Reds' captain his personal backing.
Benitez said: "Steven is our captain and a key player for us, but more than this, I know him as a nice person.
"I sat down with him this morning and had a very good talk with him about the situation and I was also able to speak at length with our club lawyer.
"Steven explained to me what had happened and I told him he has my full support and backing, along with everyone else at the football club."
Benitez revealed that Gerrard trained with the team for the first time this week and is in consideration for their FA Cup tie with Preston North End on Saturday.
The Spaniard said: "He's trained with the other lads this morning after a couple of days off for the squad and is keen now to focus solely on his football."
Benitez was keen to shift the focus back onto affairs on the pitch. Gerrard scored during the Reds' 5-1 over Newcastle United to keep the team on top of the Premier League heading into the New Year and Benitez hopes the off-field issues will not cause a distraction for the Reds.
"We've worked very hard to get into the position we're in going through to the New Year and all of us are determined to keep that progress going," added the Reds boss.
"We'll do whatever we can to support Steven in the weeks ahead, but we're now concentrating on our preparation for the FA Cup game at Preston this weekend."
Following his arrest Gerrard was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray and will appear at North Sefton magistrates' court on January 23rd along with three other men.