Gerrard faces fresh video row

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could again become embroiled in a row about trial by television after appearing to strike Michael Brown on the back of the head in last night’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth at Anfield.

With a quarter of the match to go Gerrard and Brown chased a ball towards the penalty area but, as the Pompey midfielder tried to hold off the England international, Gerrard seemed to hit his opponent with his forearm.

Referee Stuart Attwell was only a few yards from the incident but took no action against the Liverpool captain.

Only a week ago, Gerrard found himself in a similar situation for an alleged V-sign made at referee Andre Marriner in the defeat at Wigan.

That went no further as the official said he had seen the incident at the time and decided it did not warrant any action, but Attwell will almost certainly be asked to look at this incident again by the Football Association.

However, manager Rafael Benitez is confident his captain will escape further punishment.

“I don’t think so,” said the Spaniard when asked if he was worried about retrospective action against his captain.

“I haven’t seen it but I was asking and I think it was nothing.”