Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard has been found guilty of violent conduct by the English FA and has been banned for three games and may miss England’s friendly against Australia.

Gerrard was found guilty of violent conduct for his two-footed lunge on Everton’s Gary Naysmith during the Merseyside derby on December 22.

Referee Graham Poll did not book Gerrard for the lunge, but admitted afterwards he would have dismissed the 22-year-old if he’d had a clear view of the incident.

Gerrard misses Liverpool’s FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace, plus the Premiership games against Middlesbrough and Birmingham. If Sven Goran Eriksson sticks to his policy of not selecting players serving a domestic ban, he will miss England’s forthcoming friendly international against Australia.