Steven Gerrard’s daughter, Lilly-Ella, announced she is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Lee Byrne, the son of notorious Dubliner Liam who was jailed last year
Steven Gerrard reportedly treats son-in-law Liam Byrne “as he would anyone else” despite being about to share grandfather duties with a jailed gangster.
The former England captain congratulated 20-year-old daughter Lilly-Ella on her pregnancy last week, after she confirmed the news on social media. Her partner, Liam Byrne, is the son of notorious Dubliner Liam who was jailed last year for five years for weapons offences.
But sources say Steven, who currently manages Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq, is undeterred to embrace his first grandchild and continue to “treat Lee just as he would anyone else”.
Lilly-Ella, one of Steven’s three daughters, has officially been in a relationship with Lee since October 2022. He previously referred to her as “the best person he’s ever met”.
A family friend said: “You have to remember that they were both young parents when they had Lilly, so while [it is] a surprise, it’s not as big a deal for them as it might be for others. They are a very close family, they spend a lot of time together, and Steven treats Lee just as he would anyone else.”
The friend’s comments to the Daily Mail come after Steven himself posted a reply under his daughter’s social media post. It read: “We can’t wait, great news and congratulations we love you”.
But it is unclear if the former Liverpool midfielder has met his daughter’s father-in-law-to-be. Byrne Snr, 44, was arrested in Spain in 2023 and was jailed in October 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import firearms, but he is expected to only serve half of his sentence – and had already served 14 months in custody when he was brought to court.
Lee himself is not involved in any criminal activities, but his father, Dubliner Liam, has a notorious reputation. Yet, his barrister Jeremy Dein KC insisted his client did not want to find himself before the courts again. The lawyer said: “He never wants to find himself in this position again and at the age of 43 he is determined to lead a good and honest life when he is released.”
It could be that Byrne Snr is released from prison shortly before Christmas, in time for his grandchild’s christening. Father-of-four Steven, however, excitedly await his grandchild’s arrival, it is said, as he navigates a difficult second season with Al-Ettifaq. They are only six points clear of the Saudi Pro League relegation zone.
