City won 3-0 at Anfield in their first game since being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, and they are appealing.
Merseyside Police say an officer was seriously injured and 10 people were arrested around the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, which City won 3-0. The officer was taken to hospital and is now recovering at home.
Of the 10 arrests, one man was held on suspicion of two offences of assaulting a constable. Police also held five people over tragedy chanting, another man suspected of being drunk and disorderly and of assault, a pair for affray, and a further individual for hurling objects onto the playing surface.
Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said: "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."
Hobin spoke about the arrests for tragedy chanting:
"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."
97 Liverpool supporters lost their lives in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Hobin said the force would keep working with clubs to identify any perpetrators and bring them to justice. She also thanked the crowd of 60,000: "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."
The match was City's first since they were found guilty of 114 charges over breaches of Premier League financial rules, and the club is appealing that verdict. Liverpool fans called City cheats in various chants. The Guardian reported that the game turned on the 62nd-minute dismissal of Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said City's players could not have missed the chants. "I think everyone could hear it," Van Dijk said. He said Anfield would not be the only place where it would be the case: "Everyone can share their feelings and I don't think Anfield will be the only place where it will be the case because fans will have their feelings." He added that it was not a good idea for players to share their own feelings at this moment.
Van Dijk was unhappy with the Gravenberch sending-off. In his view, the first yellow card his teammate received, for a foul on Elliot Anderson, was a soft one.
On the appeal, Van Dijk said he would hold back for now: "It's still a little bit ongoing so I don't think it's smart for me to comment on it right now," he said. "But when the [appeal] verdict comes out I will definitely have my opinion and I will probably share it." The Manchester Evening News reported that City could face points deductions and even expulsion if they fail in the appeal. Before Christmas, City's appeal hearing needs to conclude; the verdict must then be relayed within 30 days.
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