'Football fan thrown to ground as Liverpool police clash with Roma supporters' ahead of Champions League match
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Violent clashes broke out in Liverpool city centre as police appeared to tackle unruly football fans prior to the Reds' Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma.
One man, presumably a police or security officer, appeared to throw another man to the ground before aiming kick at his backside as crowds dispersed following the fracas.
Reports on social media suggested the fans, many dressed in black, with hoods up, were Roma supporters.
The incident took place outside O'Neill's pub in Hanover Street, in the city centre.
Match Commander Chief Superintendent Dave Charnock, said before the match: "We are expecting a vibrant atmosphere at Tuesday’s match, but our intention is that at the end of the day we will be talking about the game and what happened on the pitch as opposed to off the pitch."
Liverpool take on the Serie A side in the first fixture of the last-four tie bidding for a place in next month's final in Kiev.
Some supporters came under fire after the Reds saw off Manchester City in the quarter-final when the visitors' team bus was targeted by home fans.
And there appeared to be more trouble before the Roma game with police being forced to intervene.
Liverpool are looking to take a lead back to Italy for next week's second leg as they battle for a final berth against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
In an all-Premier League tie in the last round, Liverpool won the first leg 3-0 before running out 2-1 winners at the Etihad to dump English champions-elect City out of the tournament.
Liverpool are bidding for a sixth European crown and their first since dramatically beating AC Milan in Istanbul 13 years ago.
A Merseyside police spokesperson said: “Merseyside Police has received a video clip taken during a disturbance in the city centre this evening (Tuesday, 24 April 2018) prior to the Liverpool V Roma semi-final.
"The footage, along with other evidence, will be reviewed to ascertain the circumstances leading up to this incident.”