Merseyside Police have confirmed that 10 people were arrested and a police officer suffered a serious facial injury following Manchester City’s Premier League encounter with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The match was played against a backdrop of intense hostility towards Manchester City, with supporters making their anger known following the club’s guilty verdict in a financial breaches case, which City have since appealed.
The tension was evident long before kick-off, as hundreds of Liverpool supporters gathered outside Anfield. Manchester City’s team bus reportedly used an alternative entrance to avoid the crowds, while the atmosphere inside the stadium was charged with angry chants, jeers and banners directed at the visitors.
However, the hostility surrounding the fixture extended beyond the stands, with police confirming multiple arrests linked to incidents during the matchday operation.
In a statement, Merseyside Police said the arrests covered a range of alleged offences, including assaults on police officers, tragedy chanting, public disorder and throwing objects onto the pitch.
“The arrests included one man arrested on suspicion of two offences of assaulting a constable, five on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and assault, two for affray and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch,” Merseyside Police said in a statement.
The most serious incident occurred after the final whistle, when supporters were leaving the stadium.
According to the police, an officer sustained a serious facial injury while arresting a man on Anfield Road at approximately 6.35pm. The injured officer was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged to recover at home.
The incident added a troubling dimension to an already heated encounter, with authorities warning that abusive behaviour and chants referencing football-related tragedies would not be tolerated.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin condemned tragedy chanting, stressing the emotional impact such behaviour has on the families and loved ones of those who have died.
“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,” chief inspector Leanne Hobin said.
She also warned that police would continue working with football clubs to identify offenders and ensure they faced the consequences of their actions.
“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.”
The arrests underline the security challenges surrounding high-profile Premier League fixtures, particularly when sporting rivalries are intensified by controversy away from the pitch.
Manchester City’s financial breaches case has remained a major talking point in English football, and Sunday’s trip to Anfield unfolded amid heightened scrutiny and hostility towards the reigning football powerhouse.
While passionate support and fierce rivalry are part of the Premier League’s appeal, the police response serves as a reminder that disorder, assaults and tragedy-related abuse can carry serious consequences.
With 10 arrests confirmed and an officer recovering from facial injuries, the aftermath of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City has shifted attention from the action on the pitch to the conduct of supporters and the wider responsibility of football authorities to keep matchdays safe.
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