Police officer sustains 'serious facial injury' as ten arrests are made at Liverpool v Man City... including five over tragedy chanting

A police officer suffered a serious facial injury while arresting a man after the ill-tempered clash between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday.

A total of ten people were arrested during a bulked-up and comprehensive policing operation for the first match since City were found guilty of breaching financial rules, which amped up the emotion on what is already a hotly-contested fixture.

And police have appealed for witnesses after one officer was taken to hospital after an incident with a fan that was being arrested.

A statement which confirmed the ten arrests read: ‘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.

‘At around 6.35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a serious facial injury during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road. The officer was taken to hospital for treatment and is now recovering at home.

‘Officers are conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.’

Chief inspector Leanne Hobin added: ‘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.’

Five males were arrested for tragedy chanting, which has been an offence for the last three years.