Liverpool fan 'could have died' after being 'punched' following Manchester City tie

A Liverpool fan says he is "lucky to be alive" after suffering a serious head injury following an incident at the team's home tie with Manchester City.

Michael Muldoon, 54, had to be rushed to hospital after it is claimed he was grabbed from behind and punched to the ground, striking his head on the pavement, as he made his way back to his car after the full-time whistle.

A police helicopter hovering above the crowd witnessed the alleged assault and mobilised officers on the ground to the scene outside Anfield on 1 December.

Michael's family now say he is "lucky to be alive".

His 28-year-old daughter, Charlotte Muldoon, says she was horrified when she got the phone call from emergency services to say that her dad was being taken to hospital.

She rushed her mum straight there.

"After the match had finished my dad was walking back to meet his friends and my brother at the car. He was walking down Arkles Lane when a guy pulled his scarf from behind and hit him in the face and pushed him," she said.

Charlotte says he fell and it knocked him out for around five minutes.

"People who were there helped him," she added. "Someone put a scarf on his head to put pressure on the bleeding.

"Then we got a phone call at about 7pm from a paramedic and me and my mum set off straight to the hospital.

"We live about an hour and 20 minutes away, it was the longest journey of my life.

"Honestly, it was horrific. We were on the phone to the paramedic on the way there but my dad was confused. He couldn't speak so he couldn't tell us what had happened.

"When he got to the hospital he had his head glued and stapled, but as time has gone on it has not healed, he's had to get it re-stitched.

"He has a literal hole in his head, you could see right through his skull, to his brains. But at the same time this had happened, my brother had been running to find my dad and when he was running he tripped and broke his foot.

"So I had my dad in hospital and my brother having X-rays on his foot at the same time, it was horrific."

Charlotte added: "It was such a long long night, it was horrific. My dad has been a season ticket holder for 30 years, he has been all over with the club.

"He was at Hillsborough, has been to every Championship final, Istanbul, Russia, you name it he's been there.

"He has always followed his club and has never had any bother and to be on his home turf walking back to the car on his own and for this to happen, it's awful."

Charlotte said passers-by who helped her dad have said he is lucky to be alive. She added: "My dad is resilient and keeps saying he will be fine, but it's so horrific what has happened.

"He hasn't been back to football since, it has made him wary, he won't admit it but he is definitely more anxious and as a family we will be worried about him going again. He is also self-employed so he has taken time off work too."

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "At around 6pm, the National Police Air Service witnessed a man being punched by another man on Arkles Lane.

"The suspect was reported to have then boarded a white-coloured supporters coach called Bullocks Coaches which was parked nearby.

"Police officers attended the scene and provided emergency medical treatment to the victim, who later attended hospital for a serious head injury and is continuing to receive medical treatment.

"Officers arrested a 21-year-old man from Halifax on suspicion of assault that evening, and the investigation continues into the circumstances of what took place.

"Enquiries are ongoing to bring the suspect to justice, and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault and those with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam to please get in touch."

Operational football officer Robert Jones said: "The victim, a 54-year-old man, was left shocked and seriously injured by this attack and we are urging anyone with information to help us with our enquiries.

"While we have arrested a man, we are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Arkles Lane and Priory Road at the time to contact us with any information which will assist in the investigation."

Merseyside Police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of assault following the attack and enquiries are ongoing.