SOCCER: Steven Gerrard will seek a personal hearing with the Football Association after being charged with violent conduct for a two-footed lunge at Everton's Gary Naysmith near the end of last month's Merseyside derby.

The England midfielder went unpunished by the referee, Graham Poll, for the tackle, which left his Scottish opponent nursing an ugly gash on his thigh, and was quick to issue a public apology immediately after the goalless draw at Anfield, insisting he had made a genuine attempt to pull out of the challenge before he made contact with Naysmith.

However, the FA's video panel deemed there was intent in the lunge and the 22-year-old, who was banned for three games last season for a similar but red-carded offence on the then Aston Villa midfielder George Boateng, now faces another three-match ban if the charge is upheld.

That would rule him out for Liverpool's Premiership game against Arsenal at Anfield on January 29th, the second leg of the English League Cup semi-final at home to Sheffield United and the FA Cup fourth-round tie with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

"Our player had no intention at all of hurting anybody," said Liverpool's manager Gerard Houllier. "After the incident the Everton player continued playing and the referee took no action. We will be looking for a personal hearing to put forward our case."

Gerrard publicly apologised for the tackle immediately after the game and insisted that he had attempted to pull out of making any contact with Naysmith.

He said at the time: "I want to apologise for the tackle. I did go into the challenge two-footed and with my studs showing, but I tried to pull back.

"I certainly never intended to hurt him. I apologised to Gary on the pitch and we shook hands at the end. He has accepted what I said. I have also apologised to David Moyes and the rest of the Everton players."

Guardian Service