Former Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin has been arrested in connection with a bar brawl that allegedly involved England and Liverpool star Steven Gerrard, police sources said.

Police said a 28-year-old was arrested yesterday on suspicion of assault and affray. A source named the man as Dunbavin, who now plays for Accrington Stanley.

He has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The brawl took place in the Lounge Inn bar in Southport, on December 29. Part-time DJ Marcus McGee allegedly lost a tooth and suffered a cut face.

Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, was celebrating the Reds’ win over Newcastle when the trouble began.

The 28-year-old player was arrested and charged with assault and affray. Gerrard will appear at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court on January 23 along with John Doran, 29, and Ian Gerard Smith, 19, both of Huyton. They also face counts of assault and affray.

Coleen Rooney’s 19-year-old brother, Anthony McLoughlin, was also arrested in connection with the brawl but was released pending further inquiries.

Dunbavin played in the youth team at Liverpool but did not get a first team game and left for Shrewsbury Town in 2000.

In 2004 he joined Halifax Town, but was sacked after a drink-driving offence. He had a spell at Scarborough before joining Accrington Stanley in 2006.

Gerrard regularly paid visits to Shrewsbury Town’s former Gay Meadow ground to watch the team play during Dunbavin’s time there.