( CNN ) -- English football star Steven Gerrard has admitted punching a man in a bar , but the Liverpool captain insisted in his court testimony that it was in self-defense . England international Steven Gerrard is in court defending his actions after a bar brawl late last year . The 29-year-old is facing a charge of affray after an incident in the early hours of December 29 , when he attacked businessman Marcus McGee following a dispute about the music that was being played . If found guilty , Gerrard faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $ 7,200 . Gerrard , who denies the charge , told a judge on Thursday that he was sorry about his actions in Southport 's Lounge Inn , but at the time he thought McGee was going to attack him . They had been involved in an argument after Gerrard tried to change the music on the bar 's sound system , but McGee would not let him , the UK Press Association reported . `` I thought he was going to hit me , '' Gerrard said . `` He was on his way forward to me and his behavior had changed from when I was having a discussion with him . I did n't know why . '' Gerrard said he was unaware that his friend John Doran had already punched McGee when he himself started to hit the 34-year-old . `` I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me , '' the midfielder said . `` Now I know , obviously , he had been struck , reacted and thought the strike was by me and he came into me and that 's when I reacted . I am sorry about the whole incident . `` I grabbed the back of his jumper as he moved forward to me . When I had hold of Marcus , I remember swinging my right hand two or three times . `` I was trying to stop still and I felt I had arms all over me . I could see a melee around Marcus McGee . When I was getting pulled away I realized people were patting me , some of whom were my friends . `` I wanted to help control the situation . I was worried the fight I had with Marcus was going to get worse because people were going past me in that direction . '' Gerrard said that his friends had earlier told him to `` forget '' the argument , but he felt he needed to confront McGee . `` I could n't understand why the guy had such a problem with me , why he was so aggressive , '' he said . `` I was also concerned that if I did leave it I would not have been able to enjoy my night , he may have come over to me . `` I wanted to see why he had such a problem with it , why a total stranger had such a problem with me putting my favorite songs on . I asked why I could n't have an input in the music and tried to explain that I had permission from the manageress . '' `` I asked Marcus what was the problem with the music machine and why he treated me like that . Very quickly he came off the bar stool and was in my face right by me . '' Gerrard had been celebrating after scoring two goals as Liverpool thrashed Newcastle 5-1 to remain top of the Premier League , and admitted that he had been drinking alcohol . `` I certainly knew I had had a drink . I was certainly in control of how I felt in my surroundings , '' he said . The father of two said he had not been in trouble with the police since the age of 19 , when he was banned from driving for nine months for drink-driving .
English football star Phil Taylor has admitted punching a man in a bar . But the Liverpool player claimed in court testimony that it was in self - defense . Gerrard , 29 , denies charge of affray for attacking businessman Marcus Johnson . If found guilty , he faces maximum penalties of six months in jail and $ 7,200 fine .