A Merseyside Police officer suffered serious facial injuries while making an arrest at Liverpool's home match against Manchester City. The injury occurred at around 6.35pm on Sunday as fans were leaving the stadium.
The officer was injured during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road and was taken to hospital. They are now recovering at home.
Arrests and investigation
A police spokesperson said: "Officers are conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage."
A man was arrested on suspicion of two offences of assaulting a constable. The force confirmed 10 arrests were made in total, including five people on suspicion of tragedy chanting; one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and affray; two for affray and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Context of the match
The match was the first since City were found guilty of breaking financial rules. The Manchester Evening News reported that City could face a huge punishment including points deductions and even expulsion if they fail in their appeal against the verdict of an independent commission, which ruled on more than 100 charges of breaking Premier League rules.
Liverpool fans brandished banners and taunted City's supporters by branding the team "cheats". City won the match 3-0 after Liverpool controversially went down to 10 men.
Police response
Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said: "Officers were on duty outside the ground to smoothly facilitate the movements of those travelling to and from the game, as well as minimise any disruption on the roads outside."
"The officers and stewards are there to protect the public and keep them safe, and it is extremely disappointing that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out that duty."
"Enquiries into the full circumstances are ongoing so that anyone responsible for criminality can be brought to justice."
Regarding the arrests for tragedy chanting about disasters such as Hillsborough, the chief inspector added: "The tragic loss of life should never be a subject for tribal point scoring."
"Football fans who chant about tragedies cause huge distress to the loved ones of people who died and their behaviour has absolutely no place in football."
"We will continue to work with clubs to take action to identify any perpetrators and bring them to justice. I hope the arrests today send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others."
"Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record. Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation."
